Skopje, 7 March 2023 (MIA) — Of the total of 1,880 PCR and rapid antigen tests done Feb. 27–March 5 for SARS-CoV-2 in laboratories nationwide, 172 came back positive for the airborne virus. Of them, 59 were reinfections, the Institute of Public Health said in its latest weekly report on the pandemic. 

The country's official number of deaths from Covid-19 has climbed to 9,668 from last week’s 9,663, with public health authorities adding five more deaths to the coronavirus death toll in the meantime. 

The 172 new SARS-CoV-2 cases were reported in 18 cities nationwide, with Skopje reporting the most infections: 89.

Officially, 219 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are considered to be active cases, and 122 people were declared ‘recovered’ from their acute symptoms last week.

Currently hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 are 45 people, three more than last week. Of them, 11 are on oxygen support.

Since the start of the pandemic, the country’s laboratories have done a total of 2,230,788 coronavirus tests, of which 66.1% PCR tests and 33.9% rapid antigen tests.

So far, public health officials have logged 347,182 infections with SARS-CoV-2 and declared 337,295 'recoveries.' They have also reported a total of 21,726 reinfections so far.

Out of the 9,668 deaths from SARS-CoV-2 logged by the Institute of Public Health, 91% happened in hospital. mr/