TIRANA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health and Social Protection in Albania confirmed here on Sunday the presence of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the country following some test analyses conducted in Germany.
According to the ministry, the presence of the Delta variant was confirmed in the samples sent to the Berlin-based Charite Institute of Virology, where the thorough genetic analyses of genome sequences of the Delta variant of the virus were conducted.
The presence of the Delta strain coincides with the rise in new infections observed over the past two weeks across the country.
"The Delta variant is a highly transmissible form of the virus, which is why compliance with the anti-COVID measures, like social distancing, wearing masks indoors and keeping personal hygiene are crucial in preventing the spread of the virus," said the ministry in a statement.
In addition, the ministry urged all citizens to get inoculated at the closest vaccination center, health center, massive vaccination center or mobile vaccination units set up across the country.
Via a Facebook message, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu also called on citizens to get vaccinated.
On Sunday, the health ministry reported a total of 22 new coronavirus cases out of 4,078 tests carried out in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 132,875, with 130,139 recoveries and 2,456 fatalities.
As of Saturday, the total number of vaccinations carried out in Albania reached 1,134,085, of which over 490,000 citizens have received both doses of the vaccine against COVID-19. Enditem