Kosovo epidemiologist: We have to release ourselves, we can increase our chances of being careful.

Many citizens on the streets of Pristina are seen without masks or hold them improperly.

The mask kiss covering the nose and mouth is mandatory in Kosovo.

Exception is made during driving alone, or when close family members are present in cars, running, eating, or drinking.

Disrespecting the measures is seen with a lot of concern by epidemiologists, who say any disrespect will increase the number of cases.

Edita Goranci-Haxhi epidemiologist at the National Public Health Institute (IKSHPK) tells Radio Free Europe that citizens should continue to respect the measures, such as putting on the mask, hygiene and physical distance.

“Rasts can grow if we're not careful. These measures when the population respects them then fall, as if now, we have a smaller number. We should never be relieved and disrespect the” measures, she says.

Kosovo, on October 8th, has recorded 25 new cases of coronarys, until only a month ago a day were recorded over 1,000 cases.

The number of active cases of coronarys is 1,335.

No record of vaccination certificate or testing for COVID-19

Under measures that are in force from September 27th, gastronomy businesses are obliged to appoint one or more responsible persons who will control the possession of the vaccine certificate or negative tests for COVID-19.

The Radio Free Europe team has stayed in some gastronomial locals, but in many of them there is no one who controls customers for this evidence.

Arian Vrainca from the Kosovo Gastronom Association tells Radio Free Europe that there is a lack of workers to impose strict control, but that this sector is trying to respect the measures.

The assassination requires relief of measures for businesses.

Some changes in the measures, such as removing free movement restrictions, extending working hours and increasing capacity within local spaces, should be made, as evidence is also required for vaccine or testing for COVID-19”, he says.

The vaccine certificate or negative tests for COVID-19 are also required in malls. Masks in shopping centers are also binding, but even here it is not seen to be respected.

The Food and Veterinary Agency is the competent body for monitoring the implementation of measures in the gastronomy sector.

Lamir Thaci, spokesman at the agency, tells Radio Free Europe they are monitoring implementation of the measures.

It is good that citizens and businesses have implemented the measures, and this has led to a decline in the number of cases. We as authorities are continuing inspections. By October 7th, 413 inspections have been made, 14 fines have been imposed for physical persons and 13 fines for legal persons”, Thaci says.

Public transportation, which has every time paid strict respect to the masses, with the decline in the number of cases even in sight, seems to lack due respect.

No mask - free access is prohibited and allowed to work using 50 percent of the seat capacity.

Among the competent bodies for the pronunciation of penal measures is Kosovo Police. Police officials, who have been seen everywhere at the time when the number of cases was high, are now missing much inspection.

In a response to Radio Free Europe, they say police activities and patrols are continuing.

In the last 24 hours (08.10) alone, 430 fines have been pronounced, or law-based offense, for violators of the Anti Law - COVID-19”, says the police response.

For failing to implement the measures, the legal person organizing banned activities is fined 500 to 2,000 euros.

measure release required
The measures to prevent the spread of COVIID-19 in Kosovo may also be in force for the next two weeks, as Kosovo Communist Association (AKK) has announced, following a meeting with Health Minister Dafina Geja-Bunjak's task manager.

Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the AKK will remain in force, especially now that schools and local elections campaigns have begun on 17 October.

The mayors have requested that the possibility of lifting the restriction of movement, starting between 22: 00 p.m. and 5: 00 a.m.

The Ministry of Health has not answered Radio Free Europe's questions about whether there will be relief of measures and whether business demands will be considered.

With the decline in the number of coronary cases, there has been a decline in the interest of citizens in vaccinating. If in the days when the number of cases with the Coronavrius was high and as many as 20,000 citizens were vaccinated on Friday, October 8th, the number of administered vaccines has been 12,005.