“There is no wave, but an omicron wall” +++ Fourth vaccination for people over 60 in Israel
In Kosovo, rarely more than 20 infections with the coronavirus per day have been reported since mid-October. During the same period, there are three or fewer deaths a day. In the Balkan country with 1.8 million inhabitants, many hope that the pandemic is over. However, Kosovar Health Minister Rafik Latifi does not share this optimism. «I would certainly wish to be able to announce an end. But I can’t, ”he told the German Press Agency in the capital Pristina on Tuesday. “A lot is going on around us. We must not lose our vigilance. We have to be careful. “
In the waves so far, Kosovo has suffered badly like other countries in the region. Almost 3,000 people died with or from the coronavirus. Experts explain the seemingly permanent flattening of the last wave with the country’s relatively young population and its relatively extensive contamination since the beginning of the pandemic.
Latifi, who has only been in office for a little over a month and previously worked as a surgeon in the USA, warns against excessive negligence because of the new Omicron variant. So far it has not been detected in Kosovo. “If it shows up with us, it could cause difficulties for us as it mutates and spreads,” says Latifi. Hundreds of thousands of Kosovars work abroad. Some of them could bring in the new variant when they go on holiday at home.
If necessary, the measures would be tightened again, stressed the minister. Others are working hard to drive the vaccination campaign forward. 44 percent of the population are fully vaccinated. The high proportion of children and adolescents makes the rate seem low. However, 60 percent of those over the age of 18 and almost 70 percent of those over 60 are fully vaccinated.