The government of Kosovo has ordered the closing of shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants and bars during the weekend, in addition to banning travelling in and out of seven cities, including the capital, Prishtina.
The new measures will apply from Friday 8p.m. to Monday 5 a.m., according to the order of the Minister of Health.
Bakeries, small markets, hospitals, drug stores and gas stations are exempt from the ban.
Municipalities of Pristina, Fushë Kosova, Gjilan, Obiliq, Gjakova, Podujeva and Shtime will be under lockdown for the same time period. People and vehicles will be banned from entering or exiting these cities, except those allowed by the law. Police will impose fines on violators.
Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti complained that the government had not consulted with mayors before the decision. Imposing a lockdown while the country’s borders are open will push people to spend the weekend in Albania and North Macedonia, he added, which are not facing a better situation with the virus.
The government has been so far unable to get the parliament’s support for a law it claims will help the economy recover during the pandemic.
Kosovo has seen a rise in new cases and deaths during the last weeks. Today it reported a record high 728 new cases, and 12 deaths.
