COVID-19 claimed 8 lives on Saturday, while another 405 tested positive.

There are an estimated 7,459 active cases across the country, of which more than half in Tirana. Currently, 149 patients are being treated at the hospital, 15 in serious condition.

Health minister Ogerta Manastirliu called on citizens to get vaccinated amid warnings from WHO over a new variant of concern that has already been detected in Belgium, Germany, and now Italy.

“The inoculation of the booster shot is very important for all those who got the vaccine 6 months ago. Therefore, I am calling on all citizens to get the third dose, just as we need to push forward with those who still haven’t gotten the first one, in order to have a broad vaccination coverage”, said Manastirliu.

All people older than 16 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Albania, while booster jabs are being administered to +65 citizens.

According to a tally kept by health authorities, the death toll in Albania has reached 3,085.