At the 26th session of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia a decision has been passed for amending and supplementing the decision for restriction of movement of citizens on the entire territory of the country.
The restriction of movement of all citizens between 9.00 pm and 6.00 am is replaced with restriction of movement from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am due to the crowds created in the public transportation and because of the need for citizens to arrive to their workplaces in the morning hours.
Furthermore, the Government has decided to restrict the movement of citizens over the age of 67 from 11.00 am to 5.00 am the next day.
The Government, at tonight’s session, brought another decision for restricting movement of persons under the age of 18, and for them the restriction of movement begins at 9.00 pm and lasts until 12 noon the next day.
The latest decisions on restricting movement of people will take effect on March 24, 2020.
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The Ministry of Information Society and Administration is in charge of issuing permits for movement for the duration of the restrictions of movement.
The permits are issued for employees in state bodies (executive and judicial) who have the need of working on duty and cannot adjust them according to the period of restrictions of movement, as well as for employees in health care organization (including also private ones) and municipal crisis headquarters.
Municipal crisis headquarters submit data through the Association of the Units of Local Self-Government (ZELS) to the Ministry of Information Society and Administration at the email: [email protected].
Data needs to be submitted every day – no later than Sunday 12.00 noon, for the following working week.
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Production plants and factories are continuing their production organized in shifts even during the curfew, while workers during the restrictions on movement will be able to move with special permits for performing shift and night-time work. This decision was made at the coordination crisis headquarters of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. At the same time, the content of the permit has been adopted and the responsible persons of the company are in charge of issuing them. The permit states basic data of the employee, place of residence, worplace and shift in which the employee is engaged. For the validity of the permit, the name of the company in which the person works is also filled in, and should also contain the memorandum of the company as well as a signature and stamp of the responsible person in the company. This document is conformation for movement of the worker in condition of curfew and will need to be submitted for inspection to the state bodies. The permit for movement will be valid only for the person whose name is on the permit.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that citizens who will be returned to the country with charter flights organized by the state will have the obligation to pay for their air tickets.
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Of the total of 14 coronavirus testing points, the first one opened today. Due to the privacy of patients, recording at the “Jane Sandanski” polyclinic in the Skopje neighbourhood of Aerodrom was not allowed. Another such center will be opened tomorrow in the Skopje neighbourhood of Singelic, and in 3 days in the neighbourhood of Cair.
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The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services decided to grant financial assistance – donation for dealing with the consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19), in the amount of 105.000.000,00 (one hundred and five million) denars.
The greater part of the funds, or 103.000.000,00 denars, are being allocated to broadcasters as follows: 73.000.000,00 denars for broadcasters (commercial and non-profit) that are currently performing television or radio broadcasting and 30.000.00,00 denars are allocated to the Public Broadcasting Service “Macedonian Radio Television”.
1.000.000,00 denars each are allocated to the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health, intended for measures and activities for protection of their employees through procurement of protection items and procurement of other equipment and funds necessary for performing activities of the Ministry for prevention, prevention of spread and dealing with the consequences of the coronavirus.
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According to latest information, a total of 372.594 people have been infected worldwide with the novel coronavirus. Of these, 16.313 have died, while 101.373 have recovered.
In the Republic of North Macedonia there are 136 people diagnosed with coronavirus, 1 person has recovered, and 2 persons have died.
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Tonight is the second night of the night-time curfew in effect from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am, as a measure for tackling COVID-19.
The curfew does not include members of the MOI, ARM, firefighting teams and persons from the Communal Hygiene working in shifts, while special identity documents will be provided for medical staff.
The curfew will also not apply to persons who have an urgent need of medical assistance, persons in life-threatening conditions and persons on dialysis. They will be able to be accompanied by two persons the most. If due to the urgency of the health condition the vehicle is stopped by police escort, the justification will be additionally recorded and checked by medical documentation after the medical examination is completed.
The number of pharmacies on duty in the cities has been limited during the curfew. Only persons who have a confirmation that they had previously had a doctor’s examination will be able to go to a pharmacy. The number of taxi cars has also been limited. Taxi drivers will be able to drive passengers only to health care facilities or pharmacies. Taxi drivers will have to have protection equipment – face masks and gloves.
Public transportation vehicles are also not allowed during curfew hours. Teams on duty of EVN, Water and Sewage company, telecommunication services and of the Heating company can move only upon previous notice on 192 (MOI).
D. Tahiri
Translation: N.Cvetkovska
