site.btaCOVID-19 in the Balkans
SC 16:15:31 27-08-2021
PP1614.106
106 BALKANS - COVID-19
COVID-19
in the
Balkans
Sofia, August 27 (BTA) - Reports regarding COVID-19 became increasingly concerning over the past week and governments are resorting to a variety of measures to manage the situation:
Greece
Stricter restrictions have been introduced for unvaccinated. As of September 13, unvaccinated staff in the private and the state sector will have to pay for an obligatory weekly test.
Two rapid tests a week will be required at schools and universities, as well as in sectors where staff have contact with large numbers of people like tourism, catering, TV and theatre.
Unvaccinated students will also have to pay for two rapid tests a week and school students will test twice a week with self-test kits provided free of charge.
Only people with evidence of vaccination or having had the infection will have access to cafes, restaurants, clubs and sports halls.
Cinemas, theatres, museums and gyms will be accessible with a certificate or a negative rapid antigen test taken 48 hours previously.
The tests will cost 10 euro. Free tests in public health facilities will be provided only to those who are already vaccinated or people with clear COVID-19 symptoms.
The Health Ministry announced it is suspending all leaves of health workers as of September 1 to avoid staff shortage due to the requirement that unvaccinated staff go on unpaid leave. To date, 21,664 of the 115,866 employees in the national health care system are not vaccinated.
Some 53 per cent of the population are vaccinated. A pilot pilot programme in front of churches will be launched in Athens and Thessaloniki on Sunday.
Turkey
The country will introduce as of September 6 a mandatory PCR test for unvaccinated at visits to theatres, cinemas, concert halls and intercity travel, the Ministry of Interior said.
Regular PCR will also be required of unvaccinated school staff (at least twice a week) and students. Tests will have to be taken 48 hrs previously. These who have recovered from the infection do not have to take a test. That or immunization are confirmed by a special HES code. The school year in Turkey starts on September 6 and now over 83 per cent of the teachers are vaccinated.
A PCR test is also mandatory for travel by bus, plane or rail. The PCR tests required of the unvaccinated will be free of charge and taken at state hospitals.
A total of 76.12 per cent of the population have been administered one dose and 58.23 per cent have two. A total of 8,167,707 have been administered a third dose.
Romania
The number of new cases is rising, as is that of patients in ICUs, but all regions in the country are still in the green zone.
Vaccination is going smoothly. To date, 9,720,866 doses have been administered to 5,216,393 people, 5,096,021 of whom are fully vaccinated.
Republic of North Macedonia
The school year will begin with in-class lessons. A hybrid model combining part of the students at remote study, part at in-class, will apply in case the situation deteriorates according to the health authorities.
Revised anti-epidemic measures allow attendance of sport and cultural events, operation of catering establishments, concerts, seminars and other indoor events at 30 per cent capacity of the premises, or at 50 per cent capacity for open-air events, upon presenting a certificate attesting to at least one dose of vaccine or to having had the infection, one that is not older than 45 days than the day the person was cured.
A ban remains on weddings, birthdays and other private events in indoor parts of catering establishments. The requirement for entering catering establishments, cafes and bars, regardless of their capacity and number of people present, only with a so-called COVID-certificate for people over 18, remains.
A total of 1,207,515 doses have been administered in the country, 511,989 people having received the second dose.
Serbia
The country also plans to begin in-class schooling as of September 1. SerbiaТs municipalities will stand in the green, yellow and red zone depending on the course of the pandemic. Kindergarten and pre-school kids will not wear masks, nor will vaccinated teachers.
Cyprus
The authorities changed the epidemiological status of six countries, including Bulgaria. As of August 26 Bulgaria, the Republic of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Liechtenstein have been moved from the amber zone to the red zone.
Montenegro
The authorities have introduced new restrictive measures allowing entry into the country only with proof that the relevant person is not infected. This is not valid for citizens of Montenegro and coming from some neighboring countries, as well as for their citizens. Unconditional entry is allowed from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia.
A total of 44.1 per cent of the adult population have received one dose and 37.4 per cent are fully vaccinated. 372,949 doses of vaccines have been administered so far.
A total of 32.6 per cent of the entire population have received one dose and 27.6 per cent of all Montenegrins a second dose.
Slovenia
Rapid antigen tests have become paid as of August 23, but people who need a test for work get it for free. Restaurateurs, teachers, staff in shops and homes for elderly get the tests for free. Until now rapid tests were free for all and used mainly for travel. Now people will have to prove they need it for their job or else pay 10-12 euro. The aim is to increase interest in vaccination.
To date 42.2 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
Croatia
The country does not plan any changes of restrictive measures. To date, 42.09 per cent of the population and 50.57 per cent of the adult population have received at least one dose, and 47.25 per cent of the adult population are fully vaccinated.
Albania
In the wake of a fivefold increase in the number of infections in the last fortnight compared to the preceding period, the health authorities have declared September a month of mass vaccination for people over 18.
To date, over 1,380,000 jabs have been administered and nearly 600,000 have received two doses of vaccine./LN/BR
//
PP1614.106
106 BALKANS - COVID-19
COVID-19
in the
Balkans
Sofia, August 27 (BTA) - Reports regarding COVID-19 became increasingly concerning over the past week and governments are resorting to a variety of measures to manage the situation:
Greece
Stricter restrictions have been introduced for unvaccinated. As of September 13, unvaccinated staff in the private and the state sector will have to pay for an obligatory weekly test.
Two rapid tests a week will be required at schools and universities, as well as in sectors where staff have contact with large numbers of people like tourism, catering, TV and theatre.
Unvaccinated students will also have to pay for two rapid tests a week and school students will test twice a week with self-test kits provided free of charge.
Only people with evidence of vaccination or having had the infection will have access to cafes, restaurants, clubs and sports halls.
Cinemas, theatres, museums and gyms will be accessible with a certificate or a negative rapid antigen test taken 48 hours previously.
The tests will cost 10 euro. Free tests in public health facilities will be provided only to those who are already vaccinated or people with clear COVID-19 symptoms.
The Health Ministry announced it is suspending all leaves of health workers as of September 1 to avoid staff shortage due to the requirement that unvaccinated staff go on unpaid leave. To date, 21,664 of the 115,866 employees in the national health care system are not vaccinated.
Some 53 per cent of the population are vaccinated. A pilot pilot programme in front of churches will be launched in Athens and Thessaloniki on Sunday.
Turkey
The country will introduce as of September 6 a mandatory PCR test for unvaccinated at visits to theatres, cinemas, concert halls and intercity travel, the Ministry of Interior said.
Regular PCR will also be required of unvaccinated school staff (at least twice a week) and students. Tests will have to be taken 48 hrs previously. These who have recovered from the infection do not have to take a test. That or immunization are confirmed by a special HES code. The school year in Turkey starts on September 6 and now over 83 per cent of the teachers are vaccinated.
A PCR test is also mandatory for travel by bus, plane or rail. The PCR tests required of the unvaccinated will be free of charge and taken at state hospitals.
A total of 76.12 per cent of the population have been administered one dose and 58.23 per cent have two. A total of 8,167,707 have been administered a third dose.
Romania
The number of new cases is rising, as is that of patients in ICUs, but all regions in the country are still in the green zone.
Vaccination is going smoothly. To date, 9,720,866 doses have been administered to 5,216,393 people, 5,096,021 of whom are fully vaccinated.
Republic of North Macedonia
The school year will begin with in-class lessons. A hybrid model combining part of the students at remote study, part at in-class, will apply in case the situation deteriorates according to the health authorities.
Revised anti-epidemic measures allow attendance of sport and cultural events, operation of catering establishments, concerts, seminars and other indoor events at 30 per cent capacity of the premises, or at 50 per cent capacity for open-air events, upon presenting a certificate attesting to at least one dose of vaccine or to having had the infection, one that is not older than 45 days than the day the person was cured.
A ban remains on weddings, birthdays and other private events in indoor parts of catering establishments. The requirement for entering catering establishments, cafes and bars, regardless of their capacity and number of people present, only with a so-called COVID-certificate for people over 18, remains.
A total of 1,207,515 doses have been administered in the country, 511,989 people having received the second dose.
Serbia
The country also plans to begin in-class schooling as of September 1. SerbiaТs municipalities will stand in the green, yellow and red zone depending on the course of the pandemic. Kindergarten and pre-school kids will not wear masks, nor will vaccinated teachers.
Cyprus
The authorities changed the epidemiological status of six countries, including Bulgaria. As of August 26 Bulgaria, the Republic of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Liechtenstein have been moved from the amber zone to the red zone.
Montenegro
The authorities have introduced new restrictive measures allowing entry into the country only with proof that the relevant person is not infected. This is not valid for citizens of Montenegro and coming from some neighboring countries, as well as for their citizens. Unconditional entry is allowed from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia.
A total of 44.1 per cent of the adult population have received one dose and 37.4 per cent are fully vaccinated. 372,949 doses of vaccines have been administered so far.
A total of 32.6 per cent of the entire population have received one dose and 27.6 per cent of all Montenegrins a second dose.
Slovenia
Rapid antigen tests have become paid as of August 23, but people who need a test for work get it for free. Restaurateurs, teachers, staff in shops and homes for elderly get the tests for free. Until now rapid tests were free for all and used mainly for travel. Now people will have to prove they need it for their job or else pay 10-12 euro. The aim is to increase interest in vaccination.
To date 42.2 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
Croatia
The country does not plan any changes of restrictive measures. To date, 42.09 per cent of the population and 50.57 per cent of the adult population have received at least one dose, and 47.25 per cent of the adult population are fully vaccinated.
Albania
In the wake of a fivefold increase in the number of infections in the last fortnight compared to the preceding period, the health authorities have declared September a month of mass vaccination for people over 18.
To date, over 1,380,000 jabs have been administered and nearly 600,000 have received two doses of vaccine./LN/BR
//
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