Health

Fresh Covid-19 outbreak puts Balkans on alert

Bucharest, Jul 8 (efe-epa).- Balkan countries are facing a resurgence of Covid-19 that threatens to isolate the region and cause a serious social and health crisis.

The worst rebound in infections in the area has been in Serbia, where riots erupted in Belgrade on Tuesday after the government announced it was reimposing a weekend curfew in the capital.

Serbia has reported more than 16,000 confirmed cases and 330 deaths, a figure which has been questioned in the press with estimates the true number of fatalities could be more than 600.

The attempt to revive the economy and not lose votes in recent elections seems to have led to a spike of infections, which has been linked to two sporting events attended by 10,000s of spectators.

In neighboring Romania and Bulgaria the number of new daily infections has returned to peak levels seen in April.

Romania, which has reported more than 30,000 cases and around 1,800 deaths, lifted its state of emergency on 15 May.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday 555 new cases were diagnosed, the highest daily rise recorded.

Authorities have attributed the rebound to the relaxation of hygiene practices and physical distancing.

Bulgaria, which has seen around 6,000 infections and 250 deaths, has also experienced a considerable increase in cases.

Last week more than 1,000 infections were recorded in a seven-day period for the first time since the virus hit the country.

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