TIRANA, Apr 5 (NNN-CNA) – Albania reported 29 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday (Apr 4), the highest daily number in a single day, as 2.8 million Albanians started a third 40-hour lock-down to break the contagion’s chain.
It now has a total of 333 cases and 18 deaths related to COVID-19.
As the map of infections widened, pictures of people milling around in an outdoor market ahead of the 1.00 p.m. lock-down prompted the government to impose stricter rules.
Albania limited shopping to one person per family for one hour, after getting permission online, and until the end of the the outbreak, will shut down any activity, its borders and transport, except for goods in the eight-hour daily window.
The epidemic followed an earthquake last Nov, that killed 51 people and left 17,000 homeless, and Prime Minister, Edi Rama’s government is applying strict distancing measures, to prevent overburdening its health system.
“Unfortunately, many of you might think we have won this war by comparing Albania’s figures with those of other countries, but we have not, the contrary is true,” Health Minister, Ogerta Manastirliu, said.
From Monday (tomorrow), police and the army will enforce a cordon in the outdoor food markets, disinfect people and force them to stay two metres apart, she added.
Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said, they were considering extending the eight-hour daily window of limited movement and travel on business days, but would make life “hell” for those who flaunted the rules.
“Our capital and three main cities could become our Waterloo, if we do not tighten the chain of defence,” Rama said.
