Prime Minister Zoran Zaev together with Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov and Health Minister Venko Filipche held Wednesday a meeting via videoconference with World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge and other WHO officials.

Talks focused on the epidemiological situation in North Macedonia and efforts made to provide vaccines and inoculate the population against COVID-19, the government said.

PM Zaev said the situation involving coronavirus infections was stable with the number of hospitalizations dropping.

He thanked for the WHO support and the successful cooperation with WHO’s office in the country, including donations, consultations, guidelines and recommendations to tackle the health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Over the holidays, Zaev said, North Macedonia introduced measures to protect public health and cushion the blow on the health system. “The support from the citizens by adhering to the measures has contributed to subduing the spread of the virus. The restrictive measures remain in force,” he said.

At the meeting, the efforts made by the WHO, its partners and the country to accelerate the procurement of vaccines through the COVAX mechanism were highlighted and the meeting participants called for the principle of friendship and solidarity of the European countries and the Western Balkan countries to be observed.

Also, PM Zaev informed about the 8,000 doses of vaccines North Macedonia should receive from Serbia to vaccinate medical professionals. They were praised for being on the frontline during the epidemic, said the press release.

“The WHO official noted the good cooperation with the Ministry of health and the Commission for Infectious Disease. He also expressed support for North Macedonia’s cooperation as part of the Berlin Process, saying he hoped coordination between the Western Balkan countries and the EU would be intensified in addressing the COVID crisis,” stated the press release.