The National Institute of Public Health announced that it has recorded 79 new cases of coronavirus in one day after 250 samples were tested on Sunday, increasing the number of people infected with coronavirus to 362 cases in total.

Ferizaj saw the biggest increase, with 35 new cases confirmed in the municipality, followed by Prizren with 16 cases. There were also six confirmed new cases in Viti and Han i Elezit, three in Gjilan, two in Malisheva and two in Vushtrria. 

The following locations also recorded one additional confirmed case on Sunday: Buroje in Skenderaj, Qabiq in Kline, Fushe Kosove, North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Hodonovc in Kamenice. The municipalities of Rahovec and Istog recorded their first confirmed cases.

Since the first cases were confirmed in early March, seven people have died having tested positive for coronavirus, while 59 people so far have fully recovered. Since 8 March, when testing for coronavirus began, 3,256 people have been tested at Kosovo’s Molecular Microbiology Laboratory.

Lul Raka, a Kosovo microbiologist, said on Sunday that Kosovo stands at a “cross-roads,” making an appeal to citizens to stay home. Raka added that the increase in numbers of people infected will provide a greater incentive to remain at home and respect social distancing than the words of health professionals.

“Today’s number, 79, and the subsequent two-digit daily numbers tell us that we are at a crossroads in the battle with coronavirus. Already, these numbers will have a greater impact on ‘stay at home’ than the messages we’ve sent over the last month,” Raka wrote on his Facebook page.

On Saturday, 20 new cases were confirmed in Prishtina. In a Facebook post, Mayor Shpend Ahmeti stated that further restrictive measures would have to be enforced. “Measures will be tightened in the coming days,” he stated. “We are entering a critical phase. If you’ve ever listened to anything I have said in my life, I’m begging you to stay at home.”

New measures

Since the early hours of Monday morning, Kosovo municipalities have continued enforcing the implementation of measures restricting peoples’ freedom of movement and the circulation of vehicles between 17:00 and 06:00. 

The measures put in place were deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on 31 March, whose verdict annulling the government decision restricting freedom of movement came into force on Monday. 

Acting Minister of Health Arben Vitia stated at a press conference on Sunday that each municipality will now take measures over freedom of movement and isolation. Vitia added that more rigorous measures will likely be put in place in the next two or three days. 

Prishtina, Ferizaj, Prizren, Suhareka and a neighbourhood in the village of Buroje in Skenderaj have all been put under quarantine after the Ministry of Health advised local mayors to do so as a result of the increased number of confirmed cases of people infected. 

Entry and exit in and out of these areas is largely prohibited until further notice is given. Prishtina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti has listed the categories of persons that are permitted to enter and exit while the capital is under quarantine, which includes: all on-call health professionals, rule of law and security officials, Kosovo inspectorates, cleaning and maintenance staff, diplomatic staff, media professionals, religious officials, and water, sewage and electricity officials. 

Three locations in Prishtina, a residential complex and two houses at the centre of the outbreak are also under 24-hour police surveillance, while in the Mati 1 neighbourhood gatherings of more than two people have been prohibited.

Kosovo Police stated on Sunday that since measures were put in place by the government, 117 people have been arrested nationwide for violating the rules restricting freedom of movement. All have been released pending further investigation.