Agim Bahtiri rejects government decision to restrict free movement

The mayor of the municipality, Agim Bahtiri, has today held upcoming meetings with the Mitrovica Community Emergency Staff, under what case it has been discussed over the current situation, as well as the assessment of new measures imposed by the Government of Kosovo for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Within a media communique, this municipality reports that first at this meeting, Mayor Bahtiri pottencoi that it opposes the Government's decision to limit the citizens' free movement from 9:00 to 05 a.m., and considers it unfair knowing that Mitrovica has only 115 positive cases with this virus including the northern part of the city, and that they are well managed. It is also unacceptable not to define the proper definition of other measures, such as barantores that are not allowed to work after 9: 00 p.m. with the setting of these measures, and this is considered to be inlerable because citizens need these services.

Chairman Bahtiri also pointed out that the important thing in this pandemic situation is to achieve citizens' awareness through the use of mask and the use of physical distance, not to make decisions that do not affect the prevention of this virus, but only damage businesses and destroy the country's economy.

Also Chairman Bahtiri said these established measures would be respected for the normal functioning of the state, rather than for those people to bring decisions that are unacceptable and inadequate to our citizens, demanding that the measure of restrictions for the Mitrovica movement be reconsidered and harmonised with the municipal level, where we are all aware that implementation is done on the part of municipal inspectors in co-operation with the Kosovo Police.

Meanwhile, Health Director Erseka Hasanaj Barani has announced those present regarding the epidemiological situation in the town of Mitrovica, where he said that so far there are always 108 cure cases, and 115 positive active cases with this virus, and 14 of them are hospitals at the Regional Hospital “Dr. Sami Hadzibeqiri” and have good health care from medical staff.

In this case, Chairman Bahtiri said that in consultation with the Covid-19 Management Committee today, it has been decided that within two days the Vushtrri Hospital will address all positive cases with Mitrovica virus, while the Mitrovica Regional Hospital performs all necessary services and other treatments for citizens of Mitrovica and the region.

South Station Police Commander Ahmet Josha said that, in co-operation with the Directorate of Inspection, they are conducting ongoing inspections for respecting the set measures, and that they are still working longer hours to 12 hours in order to ensure implementation of the COVID-19 virus prevention measures and to provide safe services to citizens.

In the end, members of the Mitrovica municipality's Emergency Staff have appealed to all citizens to continue with respect to all IKSHPK recommendations, wear the mask and keep the physical distance so that we can maintain our health, our family and all society.