Skopje, 13 January 2025 (MIA) - The Public Health Institute (PHI) said Monday that six new Covid-19 cases were registered in the week between January 6-12, two each in Kumanovo and Strumica, and one each in Skopje and Kichevo, bringing this year's total to 11.

The PHI says the low rate of the virus transmission, reduced reporting and the low number of testing samples impact the capacity for precise assessment of the epidemiological situation.

The EU/EEA population has a significant degree of hybrid immunity - prior infection plus vaccination - booster shots, which provides protection from the disease. Persons over the age of 60 are at the highest risk of severe illness. Hospitalizations, intensive care treatments and deaths in the EU/EEA countries are at a low level, but such data is not available for the Republic of North Macedonia, notes the PHI.

Although the number of weekly Covid-19 cases is low, it adds, there is a risk of rising virus activity due to the period of increased circulation of respiratory viruses in the Northern Hemisphere, which highlights the continued need for supervision, both nationally and regionally.

The basic preventive measures for Covid-19 and other respiratory communicable diseases must be followed. Inoculation provides protection from severe forms of the disease, although this protective effect diminishes as time goes by. The recommendation for vaccination of persons at high risk, such as the elderly, remains, says the PHI.

MIA file photo