North Macedonia struggles with virus outbreak

Health authorities in North Macedonia have reported another daily record of new cases and deaths, with warning that hospitals are full and medical stuff are on the brink of exhaustion.

Health Minister Venko Filipce announced 193 new infections and nine deaths on Wednesday over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number to 4,482 infections with 210 deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Macedonia's capital Skopje is the country's "epicenter" of infection, where more of the half of new cases recorded in the last two weeks.

Medical teams from other regions in the country have been transferred to Skopje to replace exhausted doctors and nurses.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Filipce called on the public to be responsible and to respect measures, including wearing masks and to maintain social distance.

"This is the biggest health crisis in our country so far. We have never faced such a health crisis. It is not easy at all, but we have the knowledge, capacity, organization and plan to overcome this crisis," Filipce said.