NEWS OF THE DAY: GOVERNMENT WITH NEW EVEN MORE STRICT MEASURES
Curfew hours have been extended, as the pandemic is entering a critical phase, while the Government is urging for everyone to act responsibly. Upon the proposal of the Commission for Infectious Diseases within the Ministry of Health and the General Crisis Headquarters, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia adopted an amendment to the Decision on ban of movement of citizens on the entire territory of the country, that is, extending the curfew throughout the entire country.
Movement of all citizens is banned on the entire territory of the country, every working day, from Monday to Friday, from 4.00 pm to 5.00 am the next day. During the weekends, movement is banned for all citizens from Friday 4.00 pm to Monday morning 5.00 am.
For persons over 67 years of age, movement is banned during all working days, from Monday to Friday, except in the period from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
For persons under the age of 18, movement is banned during all working days, from Monday to Friday, except in the period from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY – SPASOVSKI: We need to be honest, we have still not passed the worst…
“We announced that we would be entering a phase when the number of infected would progress. Most will have mild symptoms. Unfortunately, some have lost the battle and, regrettably, other fellow citizens will also lose the battle. These are difficult moments for everyone, but unluckily, inevitable for the situation in which we are in. We would all like to know when all of this will end, but no one has an answer”, said Technical Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski.
He added that this is a new, radical phase also for the stability of the health care system, and protection of the health care workers as well, but also for the individual and collective health.
“Every one of us has to give maximum contribution in this critical phase. We need to go through it with the least possible damage. Only together we can reduce the offensive. We need to be honest and sincere. We as a country have not gone through the worst yet.
In the following 2-3 weeks we will reach the peak, which will probably be between 2.000 and 2.500 confirmed cases. The threat is terrible and radical. That is why our behaviour must also be radical and much different than it is now”, stated Spasovski.
He urged for fake news and disinformation not to be created, as they create panic and have consequences on the collective health of the citizens.
STATE OF EMERGENCY, DAY 19
Three people have died from coronavirus at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, said Minister of Health Venko Filipce. One is a 40-year-old patient from Kocani, who had been admitted to
the hospital on March 29 without known illnesses, another is a 69-year-old patient from Tetovo with brain tumour and the third is a 65-year-old patient from Tetovo without known past illnesses. The total number of coronavirus deaths in the country has reached 21.
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In the past 24 hours, 15 new cases have been registered, making a total of 570 registered cases in the country.
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Four patients have been discharged from the Infectious Clinic today, who have had two consecutive negative tests. At the same time, three patients from Debar who were in home treatment have also tested negative.
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Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bujar Osmani this morning at Skopje Airport welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, who within the framework of the visit brought protection equipment for fighting COVID-19, as assistance to our country. Sijarto flew to Skopje with a special military cargo plane directly from Hungary delivering a package of 100 thousand protection masks and 5 thousand protective medical suits.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov today stated that our country has requested assistance and support in tackling the spread of coronavirus from several countries, for which he has spoken also with his counterparts, as well as through the NATO and EU mechanisms. Some of the requests, he said, have already received positive responses, and some are awaiting a response.
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The US Government has set aside 1.1 million dollars for tackling the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 in North Macedonia. The US, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing these funds to the World Health
Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF for the implementation of activities for support of efforts of the authorities for tackling COVID-19.
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The State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate yesterday conducted an extraordinary inspection in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, in which no shortcomings were concluded.
The State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate conducted the extraordinary inspection in accordance to the conclusions of the Main Coordination Crisis Headquarters for complying and applying the protocols and recommendations for the use of personal protection equipment by health care workers in providing health care services according to the levels of health care protection and the risk of COVID-19, and with the purpose of preventing the spread of the infection.
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Today the Government opened the first contact center intended for support of businesses and citizens in regards to the economic issues in a time of dealing with the crisis caused by COVID-19. Companies and individuals by calling 02/324-8040 will be able to receive all necessary information and clarifications in relation to the manner and possibility of using economic and other state measures related to coping with the situation with COVID-19.
FLASH NEWS
Our NATO membership is one of the three most important moments in recent history, from our independence until now, stated President Stevo Pendarovski in a previously recorded video address aired today on an online discussion on the topic “Global threats, risks, challenges, opportunities and NATO membership”.
“NATO is a precondition for development. If you have guaranteed borders, security and territorial integrity, you can advance in every other area because you have all other preconditions”, stated Pendarovski.
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I congratulate North Macedonia for having received agreement last week to start negotiations with the EU and for becoming the 30th NATO member. We in the European Council will try
to do everything to close the framework of negotiations May the latest and to start with the negotiations no later than June. We know very well how important it is for the Western Balkans to have peace and mutual cooperation and these things bring us closer to that, stated today the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto, who is paying a visit to Skopje, following the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov.
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Last year Macedonian citizens have spent 169.2 million euros on online shopping, which is an increase of 26.5 percent compared to 2018, published today the Association of e-commerce referring to statistical data from the National Bank on non-cash payment transactions at virtual places of sale.
According to this data, in 2019 a total of 6.727.051 online transactions have been realized in the country and abroad, as opposed to 5.435.385 online transactions during 2018, which is 23.8 percent increase.
Маја Ivanovska
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
