site.btaCOVID-19 in the Balkans
SC 17:25:31 17-12-2021
LN1723.110
110 BALKAN BRIEF
COVID-19
in the
Balkans
Sofia, December 17 (BTA) - Following is a weekly update of the coronavirus situation in the Balkans:
Albania
Has reported over 300 new infections daily in the past few days, but just a few fatalities. To date, 2.22 million doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered in the country, 998,000 or 35 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated. The vaccines authorized for application in Albania include Pfeizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, the Russian Sputnik V and the Chinese CoronaVac.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
To make vaccines more accessible and promote them against the backdrop of public distrust and misinformation, the authorities decided to open vaccination points at the municipal centres and large stores in Sarajevo. Less than one-fourth of the country's 3.3 million population is vaccinated, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
Greece
On Thursday, the authorities said PCR tests will be required for all arrivals in the country as of December 19. The measure will be applied at all border checkpoints and concerns both unvaccinated and vaccinated. Nineteen cases of people infected with the omicron variant have already been registered in the country.
On December 15 Greece launched a campaign to vaccinate children aged 5-11.
The Greek Civil Aviation Authority announced that it is reducing to 90 days from 180 days the validity of certificates for recovery from COVID-19 accepted upon entry in the country.
Cyprus
The first three cases of the omicron variant were registered at the end of last week, followed by more over the next days. New measures against the spread of COVID-19 became effective as of December 15. Those who have been in contact with confirmed positive COVID-19 cases should rake and antigen test within 72 hours and a free PCR test on the seventh day following contact. Exceptions are made only for people with booster doses.
Mandatory quarantine at locations designated by the Health Ministry is introduced for persons with a positive result for infection with omicron. Those who have been in contact with an infected person must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination coverage.
The authorities decided to annul the health certificate of all who have not had a booster dose within seven months after the second dose.
COVID-19 tests are mandatory for arrivals in Cyprus.
Vaccination of children aged 5-11 also began this week.
Kosovo
The number of new infections in the country has been declining, with only 10 reported on December 14. So far, 1.6 million doses of vaccines have been administered in Kosovo and nearly 772,000 have received a second dose. With a population of 1.87 million Kosovo outruns many of its neighbors in terms of vaccination.
Republic of North Macedonia
Reported 48 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated. On Wednesday, the government approved the delivery of 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in 2022, including pediatric doses.
Romania
Over 10 cases of infection with the omicron variant were confirmed over the past week. Nevertheless, the epidemiological situation has been improving in recent weeks. On December 13, Romania reported the lowest number of new infections since August (494 new cases).
Slovenia
Reported its first case of the omicron variant infection. Mean weekly morbidity stood at 1,352 cases a day. Over 800 are hospitalized, including 200 in ICUs. 56 per cent of the country's population are now fully vaccinated.
Serbia
Reports declining number of new COVID-19 infections, although it is expecting to detect the new micron variant soon and the first case of seasonal flu has been diagnosed.
Turkey
Has recently been reporting some 20,000 new infections and some 180 deaths a day. Six cases of the omicron variant have been identified. The authorities announced that the second and the booster dose of the vaccine should be three months apart - not six. 82.3 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
Croatia
The average number of new infections remains high (about 4,500 a day), and so are deaths. On December 13, 48,000 doses of vaccine for children 5-11 arrived in Croatia. Some 6,400 children aged 12-14 (over 5 per cent) and some 55,000 young people aged 15-19 have been vaccinated against KOVID-19 to date.
Montenegro
The Institute for Public Health confirmed five cases of infection with the omicron variant. The patients have lights symptoms and are in good general condition. The median number of new infections in the past week was 177 in 24 hours. RY/BR
//
LN1723.110
110 BALKAN BRIEF
COVID-19
in the
Balkans
Sofia, December 17 (BTA) - Following is a weekly update of the coronavirus situation in the Balkans:
Albania
Has reported over 300 new infections daily in the past few days, but just a few fatalities. To date, 2.22 million doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered in the country, 998,000 or 35 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated. The vaccines authorized for application in Albania include Pfeizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, the Russian Sputnik V and the Chinese CoronaVac.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
To make vaccines more accessible and promote them against the backdrop of public distrust and misinformation, the authorities decided to open vaccination points at the municipal centres and large stores in Sarajevo. Less than one-fourth of the country's 3.3 million population is vaccinated, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
Greece
On Thursday, the authorities said PCR tests will be required for all arrivals in the country as of December 19. The measure will be applied at all border checkpoints and concerns both unvaccinated and vaccinated. Nineteen cases of people infected with the omicron variant have already been registered in the country.
On December 15 Greece launched a campaign to vaccinate children aged 5-11.
The Greek Civil Aviation Authority announced that it is reducing to 90 days from 180 days the validity of certificates for recovery from COVID-19 accepted upon entry in the country.
Cyprus
The first three cases of the omicron variant were registered at the end of last week, followed by more over the next days. New measures against the spread of COVID-19 became effective as of December 15. Those who have been in contact with confirmed positive COVID-19 cases should rake and antigen test within 72 hours and a free PCR test on the seventh day following contact. Exceptions are made only for people with booster doses.
Mandatory quarantine at locations designated by the Health Ministry is introduced for persons with a positive result for infection with omicron. Those who have been in contact with an infected person must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination coverage.
The authorities decided to annul the health certificate of all who have not had a booster dose within seven months after the second dose.
COVID-19 tests are mandatory for arrivals in Cyprus.
Vaccination of children aged 5-11 also began this week.
Kosovo
The number of new infections in the country has been declining, with only 10 reported on December 14. So far, 1.6 million doses of vaccines have been administered in Kosovo and nearly 772,000 have received a second dose. With a population of 1.87 million Kosovo outruns many of its neighbors in terms of vaccination.
Republic of North Macedonia
Reported 48 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated. On Wednesday, the government approved the delivery of 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in 2022, including pediatric doses.
Romania
Over 10 cases of infection with the omicron variant were confirmed over the past week. Nevertheless, the epidemiological situation has been improving in recent weeks. On December 13, Romania reported the lowest number of new infections since August (494 new cases).
Slovenia
Reported its first case of the omicron variant infection. Mean weekly morbidity stood at 1,352 cases a day. Over 800 are hospitalized, including 200 in ICUs. 56 per cent of the country's population are now fully vaccinated.
Serbia
Reports declining number of new COVID-19 infections, although it is expecting to detect the new micron variant soon and the first case of seasonal flu has been diagnosed.
Turkey
Has recently been reporting some 20,000 new infections and some 180 deaths a day. Six cases of the omicron variant have been identified. The authorities announced that the second and the booster dose of the vaccine should be three months apart - not six. 82.3 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
Croatia
The average number of new infections remains high (about 4,500 a day), and so are deaths. On December 13, 48,000 doses of vaccine for children 5-11 arrived in Croatia. Some 6,400 children aged 12-14 (over 5 per cent) and some 55,000 young people aged 15-19 have been vaccinated against KOVID-19 to date.
Montenegro
The Institute for Public Health confirmed five cases of infection with the omicron variant. The patients have lights symptoms and are in good general condition. The median number of new infections in the past week was 177 in 24 hours. RY/BR
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