The National Institute of Public Health announced that 17 new cases of coronavirus had been recorded out of the 226 samples tested on Monday, with 35 people officially having recovered, marking a decrease in the daily number of cases reported in the country.

The Institute stated that five new cases were recorded in the Municipality of Prizren, three in the Municipality of Leposavic, two in the Municipality of Podujevo and one case each in the municipalities of Prishtina, Dragash, Peja, Kacanik, Rahovec, Suhareka and Zvecan. 

Minister of Health Arben Vitia applauded the news, but emphasized that social distancing must remain in place in order for the situation to improve. “This data is promising, but we need to continue to pay attention and follow the rules,” he said in a Facebook post announcing the latest numbers.

Since February 8, out of 6,705 samples tested for coronavirus at Kosovo’s Molecular Biology Laboratory, 780 have returned positive results for coronavirus, while 201 people have officially recovered. 22 people are reported to have died that tested positive for the virus.

Faik Hoti, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Health, announced on Tuesday morning that there are currently 50 people being treated at the Infectious Disease Clinic in Prishtina, nine of which are relying on ventilators for oxygen, with one person in a critical condition. 

The city that has been most affected by the virus is Ferizaj, which has recorded 98 cases, followed by Peja with 73 and Malisheva with 72 cases. Prishtina has recorded only 67 positive cases since the outbreak began.

Prishtina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti posted a video on his Facebook from Mother Teresa Boulevard on Tuesday morning, expressing hope that restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly currently in place will be lessened. “I believe that very soon we will start to ease the restrictive measures, and that as soon as possible, squares that are empty will be full again.”

The current restrictions have been in place since April 13 to contain the spread of coronavirus, which allocate 90 minute time slots to Kosovo residents during which they are permitted to go outside. These rules will be in force until May 4, when a new decision on the extent of the measures is expected to be taken. 

However, there is still uncertainty over the nature of the government’s future plans to ease or modify the restrictions in force. 

“The Ministry of Health, along with other ministries, agencies and experts, are looking into every option regarding what will be implemented after this date, depending on the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 and recommendations from the National Institute of Public Health,” the health ministry spokesperson told Radio Free Europe on Tuesday.

Lul Raka, a Kosovo microbiologist, said to public broadcaster RTK that regardless of the new measures put in place by the government, citizens should be aware that the risk to public health will remain. “Even after May 4, we have to keep in mind that social distancing and hands hygiene should continue strictly,” Raka said on Monday.