Health authorities in the country expect the restrictions in place to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus to produce results as the number of new COVID-19 infections is on the rise. The situation is closely followed, they say, and the introduction of new measures will depend on the epidemiological situation.
Earlier this week, the government approved a recommendation of the Commission for Infectious Diseases for reinstatement of nationwide curfew, 10 pm to 5 am, from March 10 until March 22.
The Health Ministry on Thursday said that 947 new coronavirus cases were registered in the past 24 hours after 3,450 tests were conducted. In the same period, 21 fatalities were registered as well as 397 patients who have recovered.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, 110,209 infections have been recorded and 96,570 recoveries. There are currently 10,374 active cases across the country.
Death toll has reached 3,265.
A total of 555,367 COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far.
Health Minister Venko Filipche said that every hospital has beds available for new admissions, stressing that a plan has been prepared if hospitals reach full capacity.
A total of 916 patients and suspected cases are treated for coronavirus-related complications at infectious diseases units in the country. 350 people have been admitted to Skopje hospitals and 566 in hospitals across the country.
Covid units at the moment have 280 beds available. Also, the modular hospital within the Clinic for Infectious Diseases has been put in operation.
Minister Filipche said he expected the measures in place to provide results and the epidemiological situation to change in ten days.
“We are following new developments closely in terms of numbers and trends and we are yet to see in terms of additional restrictive measures,” he told reporters.
According to him, young people contribute generally to the spread of the virus. “We believe young people, who are very active and stay up late to hang out after bars close, are a serious vector in the virus transmission. I believe in the next 10 days there will be changes,” Filipche said.
