site.btaCOVID-19 in the Balkans

As the epidemiological situation in most Balkan countries improved over the past week some eased restrictive measures considerably while others forecast such steps for next month:

Albania

May lift all pandemic-related restrictions in March. Quarantine for positively tested is now reduced to five days and booster doses can be administered five months after the last dose, not six as before.

Over 44.6 per cent of the population have been administered at least one dose of vaccine, over 41.9 per cent are fully vaccinated and some 8.1 per cent have had a booster jab.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Registered 640 new infections on February 23 and 18 fatalities.

Over 29 per cent of the population have been administered at least one dose and over 26 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Greece

Mask-wearing in the open remains mandatory, but the measure may be withdrawn after a week, experts say. The expected recommendation then is mask-wearing to remain for places with large grouping of people.

A total of 15,829 new infections were last registered in the country, as well as 65 fatalities and 454 patients in intensive care.

At least one dose has been administered to 73.2 per cent of the Greeks, 69.7 are fully vaccinated and 49.9 have had booster shots.

Cyprus

Registered 1,935 new infections and one fatality on Thursday. The test positivity rate stands at 1.75 per cent. A total of 167 patients are hospitalized, including in 37 critical condition.

At least one dose has been administered to 56.9 per cent of Cypriots, 53.4 per cent are fully vaccinated and 36.1 per cent have had boosters.

Kosovo

Registered 257 new infections on February 23 and 6 fatalities.

Forty-eight per cent of the population has been administered at least one dose, 43.4 per cent are fully vaccinated and 5.1 per cent have had booster jabs.

Romania

Expects to see the end of the fifth wave approaching in about three weeks, Health Minister Akexandru Rafila said. Any easing of measures, though, can be discussed only when a considerable drop in ICU patient numbers is registered.

The country reported 10,749 new infections and 119 fatalities on Thursday; 8,040 are hospitalized, including 1,002 in intensive care.

Over 42 per cent of the country’s population is vaccinated with at least one dose and 41.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.

North Macedonia

With a drastic drop in the number of active cases by over 3,000 in a week to 5,449 on February 23, the Commission for Infectious Diseases proposed a waiver of the green certificate upon leaving the country and return of pregnant women to work on site.

As the percentage of vaccinated is 41 and the infection is still spreading in a mass scale, the Commission thinks total waiver of the green certificate is still not possible.

Slovenia

Removed nearly all anti-epidemic measures as of Monday, with the exception of mask-wearing and hand cleansing products. Restrictions on working hours were also lifted, as those of the number of people at indoor events.

Green certificates are required for access to hospitals, care homes and prisons. Testing for school students was rescinded.

As at February 23, the country has registered 2,466 new infections and 10 fatalities.

A total of 60.2 per cent of Slovenians have been administered one dose, 58 per cent are fully vaccinated and 29.7 per cent have had booster jabs.

Serbia

Confirmed 3,718 new infections in the last 24 hours, 49 fatalities, as well as 3,112 hospitalised, including 115 on respirators.

A total of 48.4 per cent of the population have been administered one dose of vaccine, 47.2 are fully vaccinated and 26.9 have had booster jabs.

Turkey

Is seeing a gradual return to normalcy, lethality still remains high but is expected to decline soon. A total of 79,700 new infections and 281 fatalities were registered on Thursday.

A total of 68.4 per cent of the population have been administered at least one dose, 62.6 per cent are fully vaccinated and 41.3 per cent have had booster jabs.

Croatia

Registered 2,559 new infections on Thursday; 1,504 are hospitalized, including 109 in intensive care, 22 fatalities were recorded.

Over 57 per cent of the population has been administered at least one dose, 55 per cent are fully vaccinated and 14.7 per cent have had boosters; 65.44 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated.

Croatia does not plan on easing restrictions at this point, Health Minister Vili Beros said.

Montenegro

Registered 208 new infections on Wednesday compared to an average 280 for a seven-day period. One person died compared to the average four over the past seven days.

A total of 45 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated, 46.4 per cent have received one dose and 15.1 per cent have had booster jabs./BR