site.btaCOVID-19 in the Balkans
SC 19:56:01 24-09-2021
DT1954.118
118 COVID-19 - BALKANS - BRIEF
COVID-19
in the
Balkans
Sofia, September 24 (BTA) - As the numbers of new COVID-19 infections continued to rise in the past week in most Balkan countries, some of them were forced to resort to stricter local measures. Meanwhile, authorities' efforts to promote vaccination continued and part of the countries already offer a booster dose.
Turkey
The country has already administered over 106.89 million doses of vaccine since the beginning of the campaign. Over 43 million are fully vaccinated. As at September 23, 85.69 per cent of the adult population has received at least one dose of the two-phase vaccines. Over 10.3 million have received a third booster dose. The highest percentage of fully vaccinated was registered in the bordering on Bulgaria Kirklareli province - 77 per cent of the population. Nearly 84 per cent of Istanbul's residents have also been administered at least one dose and 67.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Greece
The country decided to offer a booster dose to the vulnerable categories including homes for the elderly, people over 60 and medical staff. Booster doses will not be mandatory but recommended.
Romania
The country is seeing rising numbers of infections that exceeded 7,000 in the last few days and the increasing number of severe cases gave rise to concern of possible shortages of beds in ICUs. A number of settlements introduced new restrictive measures including curfew between 8 pm and 5 am for both vaccinated and unvaccinated over the weekend, with movement outside allowed only in exceptional cases after filing in a declaration; reduced working hours for shops, limited access to catering establishments, sports halls, cultural events and private gatherings. This led to a heightened interest in vaccination to a daily 18,000 compared to the 8,000-9,000 in previous weeks. A total of 5,298,707 Romanians are fully vaccinated and a booster dose is offered to vulnerable categories like people over 65, those with chronic diseases or immune deficiency, as well as healthcare and education staff.
Republic of North Macedonia
The authorities recommended a booster dose to healthcare workers, people over 60 and those with compromised immunity. Pfizer is the recommended vaccine and it has to be administered six months after the second dose. Regardless of what vaccine they have been administered initially, all citizens may receive a third jab as of Monday. North Macedonia has reached a plateau of new cases in recent days (of some 500 daily) and authorities say there is no additional pressure on the health care system. Thirty-seven per cent of the entire population are vaccinated. A total of 74 per cent of the population over 70 years of age, 65 per cent over 60 and 60 per cent over 50 have been administered at least one dose.
Serbia
The situation remains grave, with 6,480 new infections and 41 deaths reported, 5,197 hospitalized and 191 in ICU. WHO Representative in Serbia Marijan Ivanusa said the situation is extremely grave and could continue for a long time.
Montenegro
Over 41 per cent of the population are vaccinated. The latest reported new cases numbered 568.
Albania
The country decided on September 22 to extend by another two weeks the current COVID-19 prevention measures. The authorities report declining number of cases and said the situation is under control. Vaccination levels remain low, although vaccines are free and accessible to everyone over 18. Mandatory vaccination of university students and professors began on September 20.
Slovenia
The Ministry of Labour announced that those working from home will also have to have a certificate attesting to vaccination, having had the infection or a negative COVID-19 test. The certificate was introduced for work, access to malls, health establishments, public transport except for school students, various services and public authorities.
Croatia
Reported that over 80 per cent of the new infections and severe cases of COVID in ICU in the last seven days were unvaccinated. In the same period, Croatia registered 8,210 new cases and 547 new hospitalized, while 77 needed intensive care. A total of 72 per cent of the hospitalized are unvaccinated. Eighty-two patients with COVID-19 died over the past week, 78 per cent of whom were unvaccinated. LN/BR/
/DT/
DT1954.118
118 COVID-19 - BALKANS - BRIEF
COVID-19
in the
Balkans
Sofia, September 24 (BTA) - As the numbers of new COVID-19 infections continued to rise in the past week in most Balkan countries, some of them were forced to resort to stricter local measures. Meanwhile, authorities' efforts to promote vaccination continued and part of the countries already offer a booster dose.
Turkey
The country has already administered over 106.89 million doses of vaccine since the beginning of the campaign. Over 43 million are fully vaccinated. As at September 23, 85.69 per cent of the adult population has received at least one dose of the two-phase vaccines. Over 10.3 million have received a third booster dose. The highest percentage of fully vaccinated was registered in the bordering on Bulgaria Kirklareli province - 77 per cent of the population. Nearly 84 per cent of Istanbul's residents have also been administered at least one dose and 67.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Greece
The country decided to offer a booster dose to the vulnerable categories including homes for the elderly, people over 60 and medical staff. Booster doses will not be mandatory but recommended.
Romania
The country is seeing rising numbers of infections that exceeded 7,000 in the last few days and the increasing number of severe cases gave rise to concern of possible shortages of beds in ICUs. A number of settlements introduced new restrictive measures including curfew between 8 pm and 5 am for both vaccinated and unvaccinated over the weekend, with movement outside allowed only in exceptional cases after filing in a declaration; reduced working hours for shops, limited access to catering establishments, sports halls, cultural events and private gatherings. This led to a heightened interest in vaccination to a daily 18,000 compared to the 8,000-9,000 in previous weeks. A total of 5,298,707 Romanians are fully vaccinated and a booster dose is offered to vulnerable categories like people over 65, those with chronic diseases or immune deficiency, as well as healthcare and education staff.
Republic of North Macedonia
The authorities recommended a booster dose to healthcare workers, people over 60 and those with compromised immunity. Pfizer is the recommended vaccine and it has to be administered six months after the second dose. Regardless of what vaccine they have been administered initially, all citizens may receive a third jab as of Monday. North Macedonia has reached a plateau of new cases in recent days (of some 500 daily) and authorities say there is no additional pressure on the health care system. Thirty-seven per cent of the entire population are vaccinated. A total of 74 per cent of the population over 70 years of age, 65 per cent over 60 and 60 per cent over 50 have been administered at least one dose.
Serbia
The situation remains grave, with 6,480 new infections and 41 deaths reported, 5,197 hospitalized and 191 in ICU. WHO Representative in Serbia Marijan Ivanusa said the situation is extremely grave and could continue for a long time.
Montenegro
Over 41 per cent of the population are vaccinated. The latest reported new cases numbered 568.
Albania
The country decided on September 22 to extend by another two weeks the current COVID-19 prevention measures. The authorities report declining number of cases and said the situation is under control. Vaccination levels remain low, although vaccines are free and accessible to everyone over 18. Mandatory vaccination of university students and professors began on September 20.
Slovenia
The Ministry of Labour announced that those working from home will also have to have a certificate attesting to vaccination, having had the infection or a negative COVID-19 test. The certificate was introduced for work, access to malls, health establishments, public transport except for school students, various services and public authorities.
Croatia
Reported that over 80 per cent of the new infections and severe cases of COVID in ICU in the last seven days were unvaccinated. In the same period, Croatia registered 8,210 new cases and 547 new hospitalized, while 77 needed intensive care. A total of 72 per cent of the hospitalized are unvaccinated. Eighty-two patients with COVID-19 died over the past week, 78 per cent of whom were unvaccinated. LN/BR/
/DT/
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