We’re facing a critical period now and additional hospital capacities will be needed, Health Minister Venko Filipche stated Thursday after the Security Council session.

“We’re expecting in the coming period the number of new COVID-19 cases to be linear. The whole region is affected, it is reporting a surge in cases and rising number in fatalities as well even though restrictions are in place. All private hospitals will put at a disposal their capacities, including their staff. A work plan will be drafted very soon together with the state capacities,” he told reporters.

After a state of crisis is declared, private hospitals will be compensated for their medical services, said President Stevo Pendarovski.

“We’re not talking about nationalization, to put it simply, the state will serve as manager in the coming 30 days,” he stated answering a reporter’s question.

“The country doesn’t have a law on state of emergency, but it has a law on state of crisis, which regulates that the state should cover 30% of the costs once normalcy is restored,” PM Zoran Zaev said.

Asked about the state of preparedness of the clinics to admit new patients, Minister Filipche said that two floors of the building housing internal medicine clinics were nearing full capacity. Another floor should be put into function tomorrow.

“The capacities are fully mobilized, there’s also almost daily coordination. We are prepared to repurpose other clinics. This is going to be the next step. We’ll make a comprehensive plan to include all resources,” he stated.