Figures provided by the Robert Koch Institute named Kosovo as the most frequently cited place of infection for people that have tested positive for coronavirus in Germany in recent weeks, excluding Germany itself. 

According to a report that gathers information on infection rates and likely place of infection published by the Institute on Wednesday, 2,946 infected citizens stated that Kosovo was the probable place of infection between 29 July and 25 August. 

With a total of 28,298 cases confirmed in Germany during that period, Kosovo was reported to have been the probable place of infection in more than 10 per cent of cases. The peak was between 12 and 18 August, when Kosovo was named as the probable place of infection in 920 instances. 

Kosovo was also the country most often named as the probable place of infection in July. According to a previous Robert Koch Institute report, 303 people testing positive for coronavirus stated Kosovo as the probable place of infection between 1 and 28 July.

The Robert Koch Institute states that the proportion of cases in Germany with a probable place of infection abroad has increased significantly in recent weeks. 

More than 13,000 people testing positive in Germany between 29 July and 25 August stated that the place of infection was likely abroad. Other countries listed as a probable place of infection during this period include Croatia (2,639 cases), Turkey (1,825 cases) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (695 cases).

Kosovo’s National Institute of Public Health announced on Thursday that there are currently 3,251 active coronavirus cases in the country, while 539 citizens have died after testing positive for the virus.

On Wednesday, Mursel Pllana, the director of the Vushtrri hospital, stated that 27 COVID-19 patients are now being treated at the hospital. Meanwhile, Gjakova hospital reported that 42 patients with COVID-19 were currently being treated, while there are currently 50 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Peja.

On Monday, Valbon Krasniqi, the acting general director of the Clinical and University Hospital Service of Kosovo, stated that COVID-19 patients are currently being housed only in the pulmonology and infectious disease clinics at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo in Prishtina. 

According to Krasniqi, all COVID-19 patients being treated at the neurology clinic were transferred on Monday. He added that the maternity ward has not housed COVID-19 patients since 21 August.