Albania reported a new daily record of 711 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, the Health Ministry said, as concerns grow over a most powerful second wave of the virus in country. The new record came a day after Albania reported 694 cases.

The figure for Wednesday was based on just 2574 tests done nationwide. 

Quite concerning is the outbreak situation in Tirana, which had 374 fresh cases and in Korca where 61 new infections were found by the virologists. Better numbers seem to be experienced by Kurbin, Tepelena, Bulqiza and Kolonja that had only 2 or 1 new infection each, according to the Ministry of Health.

“Positive cases confirmed in the last 24 hours have been identified in these municipalities: 374 cases in Tirana, 61 cases in Korça, 44 cases in Lezha, 41 cases in Elbasan, 21 cases in Shkodra, 19 cases in Gjirokastra, 18 cases in Berat, 11 cases in Librazhd, Mirdita, Malësi e Madhe, 10 cases in Kavaja, Pogradec, 9 cases in Kuçova, 8 cases in Durrës and Fier, 7 cases in Kukës, Tropoja, Mallakastra, Saranda, 6 cases in Skrapar, 5 cases in Devoll , Lushnja, 3 cases in Vlora, 2 cases in Kurbin, Tepelena, 1 case in Has, Mat, Bulqiza, Kolonja”, informed the Health Ministry.

Another worrisome aspect of the pandemic in Albania is the high number of deaths, since 9 nationals have passed away in the last 24 hours, bringing the virus death toll to 646. The fatalities this time were a 60-year-old from Librazhd, a 63-year-old, a 65-year-old, a 70-year-old from Tirana, a 63-year-old and a 79-year-old from Shkodra, a 70-year-old from Durrës, a 75-year-old from Korça, an 81-year-old from Gjirokastra.

Good news is the fact that 412 citizens have been cured in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of recoveries to 14,216 since the beginning of the epidemic.

However, 420 patients are being treated, 15 in intensive therapy, out of which 6 are intubated in 3 the COVID hospitals as the figures of active coronavirus cases have struck 14.975 and total positive cases 29.837.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection calls on all citizens to respect the rules of hygiene, physical distancing and wearing a mask in any environment outside the home and the Committee of Technical Experts announced that all gatherings with more than 10 persons indoors or outdoors are banned indefinitely so as to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus.