A drop in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has been reported recently. Also, the number of recovered patients is rising and is higher than the number of new cases. However, despite the trend of the pandemic subduing, almost two dozen fatalities are recorded almost every day.

The authorities are calling for the preventative measures and recommendations to be followed, primarily ahead of the holiday season. They have been urging the citizens to celebrate responsibly, to avoid large groups so as to protect public health.

On Sunday, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said the Interior Ministry (MoI) has designed a special operation plan for the holidays, which entails increased police controls to ensure people abide by coronavirus protective measures.

Police officers, he added, will follow up on reports.

“If they find that someone is hosting an event, they will notify the Public Prosecutor and open a case,” Spasovski noted.

He stressed a drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases and advised caution over the holidays.

“Everyone should abide by measures. Those who don’t will be sanctioned for putting people health and lives in danger,” Spasovski concluded.

Police has busted several parties in the past few days.

The Health Ministry said on Sunday that 296 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the past 24 hours out of 1,253 tests. In the same period, 511 patients were reported as recovered and 18 death were registered.

A total of 1,036 people, who have tested positive for the new coronavirus or suspected cases, have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of those, 426 are hospitalized in Skopje. Nearly 320 hospital beds are available at COVID units.

Since the beginning of the epidemic, there have been 81,721 COVID-19 cases and 59,231 people have recovered. At the moment, there are 20,045 active cases in the country.

Death toll has reached 2,445.