The surge in the number of infections and fatalities due to COVID-19 in Kosovo, as prompted the government to impose tougher measures that affect citizens and businesses.

These new restrictions also affect the country’s economy in many ways. Hence, the Chamber of Economy and Tourism as well as several gastronomy NGOs have spoken out against them.

According to the director of OEK, Berat Rukiqi, the government should focus on the massive vaccination process, instead of imposing more rules.

The Association of Kosovo’s Gastronomes have also opposed the new measures unless the state offers to support them financially.

“The very fact that we are in this state, right now shows that they need to find one way or another in order to ameliorate the situation. It is obvious that we are the ones getting ‘hurt’ the most, because our sector is the one getting the biggest blow,” said Hysen Sogojeva, the director of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

Despite complaints made by businesses, doctors say that the situation has gotten worse.

“We have never seen a faster increase in any of the past wave, and we have also never had so many hospital admissions in the past. In the past 3 days, our capacities at the Clinic of Sports Medicine have been filled up,” said Artan Ahmeti, director of the Clinic.

In only 2 days, a total of 34 fatalities were recorded in Kosovo. This has led to tougher measures and anti-COVID restrictions in the country.