1,216 new COVID-19 Cases, 15 Deaths in Past 24 Hours

1,216 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours out of 3,761 tests conducted among citizens. 624 of the new cases are registered in Skopje, 80 in Prilep, 50 in Bitola, 46 in Veles, 43 in Kumanovo, 40 in Tetovo, 36 in Kavadarci, 32 in Kocani, 30 in Ohrid, 23 in Negotino, 22 in Strumica, 21 in Stip, 20 in Gevgelija, 16 in Valandovo, 14 in Gostivar and Berovo, 13 in Demir Kapija, 12 in Resen, 9 in Krusevo and Probistip, 8 in Sveti Nikole, 7 in Struga, Radovis and Delcevo, 5 in Vinica, 4 in Kicevo, Kriva Palanka, Bogdanci and Pehcevo, 3 in Kratovo and Demir Hisar, 2 in Debar and Makedonski Brod and 1 in Dojran and Makedonska Kamenica. 15 patients passed away, while 111 are registered as cured. The Health Ministry decided on Thursday to open a new COVID centre at the clinic for Traumatology, informing that the clinic will reduce activities with other patients and will only perform urgent operations. Additional departments for COVID-19 patients with 25 beds will also be open at the hospitals St. Naum of Ohrid and 8 September. Health Minister Venko Filipce stated that at the moment there is no necessity for activation of the private facility at the old Mala Bogorodica Hospital, but added that COVID-19 patients will be admitted there if numbers of new cases increase rapidly. 69 people died of COVID-19 in the past 7 days, while the number of active cases overpassed 12,000, like during the autumn wave of infections during November 2020. In meantime, the Chamber of Doctors called upon the Infectious Diseases Committee to recommend to the government introduction of stricter measures for prevention of spreading of COVID-19, pointing out that the opening of new COVID centers around the country reduces the capacities of clinics to deal with patients with health problems other than COVID-19, which is a serious risk over the health of all citizens. The Interior Ministry reports of 11 curfew violations and 455 fines against citizens for not wearing face protection. So far in Macedonia, 116,438 cases of COVID-19 were registered, of which 99,126 cured, 13,909 still active, and 3,403 dead patients.