Leader of the Democratic Party Lulzim Basha has made repeated calls for mass testing for Coronavirus in Albania.
On the “Opinion” television show, he said that this would allow for more effective isolation and that without it, lockdown will be extended, the economy will suffer and the death toll will rise.
Basha said that the cost for mass testing would be €90 million a month, costing €260 million in all. The money would be available to the state if the government cancelled the controversial concession contracts and PPPs they have handed out.
The Minister of Health Ogerta Manastirliu said that the government has ordered 30,000 tests and that their testing strategy was in-line with the WHO recommendations.
In a statement distributed by the Ministry’s press office, Manastirliu said:
“We have no problem with [testing] capacity. We currently have [stock] and have ordered another 30,000 tests. But the testing strategy is decided by experts. We are implementing WHO recommendations for testing testing for any suspected cases.”
The Albanian government is only testing those over 65 and those who have come into contact with confirmed cases.
So far, 2,571 people have been tested for Coronavirus and 377 cases have been identified. In the seven countries of the Western Balkans with a combined population of 55 million, only 37,000 tests have been carried out.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that staying at home and restricting movement is the most effective way of curbing the spread of the virus.
