The number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations is on the rise in North Macedonia. Authorities say they are monitoring the situation and have decided not to introduce tougher measures as the nationwide nighttime curfew, from 10 pm to 5 am, remains in place. However, additional restrictions aren’t ruled out if the current measure fails to produce the expected results.
“The third wave of the pandemic is in full swing and now it’s not the time to relax the restrictions,” Health Minister Venko Filipche told Wednesday’s news conference alongside Zharko Karadzovski, President of the Commission for Infectious Diseases.
If the current ones don’t produce the results we need, he stressed, we might introduce additional stricter measures if the Commission for Infectious Diseases decides so early next week.
According to him, the rise in the number of infections is mainly due to the fact that people have been flouting the restrictions and the virus strains detected in the country, which are easily transmissible.
At the moment, Filipche said, there are 11,889 active coronavirus cases nationwide and a rise of over 500 active cases from February 15 to March 15.
Speaking at the news conference, doctor Karadzovski said that the country has registered 116 reinfections, including two patients who died after contracting the virus again. It is due to people not adhering to the measures, especially those who have recovered believing they are now immune, he stressed.
“We’re closely monitoring what is the percentage of reinfections, so far it’s 0,01%, which is relatively small compared to the total number of positive tests,” Karadzovski said.
The British strain of the coronavirus, which is highly transmittable, is already dominant in larger cities, including Skopje, Ohrid and Prilep, he said.
North Macedonia on Wednesday registered 1,293 COVID-19 cases, 24 fatalities and 339 recoveries.
A total of 1,135 COVID-19 patients and suspected of having contracted the virus are treated at COVID units across the country. There are 280 hospital beds available, the Health Ministry said yesterday.
So far, 5,300 health workers have received the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the vaccination campaign.
Furthermore, a public opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis (IDSCS) shows that half of the respondents said they would like to receive a vaccine against COVID-19. Majority of the respondents said they prefer the Pfizer vaccine. Also, many believe that the government isn’t doing enough to address the current crisis, shows the poll.
