TIRANA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The entire health system in Albania is on alert and facing the largest influx throughout COVID-19 epidemic, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said on Saturday. Manastirliu made this statement while inspecting a summer health center in seaside city of Vlora, southwest Albania.
Speaking to reporters, Manastirliu called for maximum commitment to respect anti-COVID protocols, to identify in time the suspected cases and to stop the chain of infection transmission in tourist areas, which are expected to have an increased influx of vacationers.
So far, Manastirliu said, medical staff in summer health centers have identified several dozen suspected cases which have been later followed by epidemiologists and the National Medical Emergency Center.
Medical staff, working in the 28 summer health centers across the country, follow a special protocol, which defines all the steps that a doctor or a nurse must take at the moment when they face with a suspected case with COVID-19, Manastirliu said.
"More than 4,000 services, consultations and treatments have been provided in just a few weeks in all summer health centers from Shkodra, north of the country to Saranda, southwest Albania," Manastirliu noted.
According to her, all 28 summer health centers are equipped with personal protective equipment when it comes to anti-COVID protocols and ambulances of the National Emergency are in 18 specific points to guarantee quick arrival at the place where the emergency occurs.
The minister called for increased vigilance in every structure and appealed to citizens to be careful, to abide by the rules in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
On Saturday, the health authorities reported record 93 new coronavirus cases and four COVID-19 related-deaths over the last 24 hours. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Albania reached 3,371, with 1,881 recoveries and 89 fatalities.
The Institute of Public Health (IPH) in Albania had over 90,000 COVID-19 tests available and the government will continue to strengthen the laboratory capacity, Health Minister Manastirliu said on Tuesday. Enditem
