The number of new cases of health problems in Gostivar is decreasing, stated the Minister of Health of North Macedonia, Sasho Klekovski, during a visit to the Special Hospital for Lung Diseases in Leshok.
According to him, currently around 80 new cases have been reported, a figure about two times lower compared to previous days.
"The total number of affected people is around 4 thousand. So far, 750 cases of infectious diseases have been registered, while epidemiological interviews have been conducted with 490 people. The epidemic is entering the calming phase and now a full epidemiological analysis is underway to determine the chronology of events and to separate cases related to the epidemic from common gastroenteritis," said Klekovski.
The Minister announced that the water from the Gostivar city water supply is still not safe for use, not even for technical purposes.
"The chlorine level in the water is being monitored, but the required level has not yet been reached. Analyses are being carried out regularly at several measuring points and only after the chlorination is at the necessary standards will the use of the water as technical water be allowed," he said.
Regarding the Special Hospital in Leshok, Klekovski explained that the institution has not used local water supply for consumption for years, but is supplied with drinking water through dispensers.
Meanwhile, a criminal investigation into water pollution continues in Gostivar. Authorities suspect that a pump was illegally installed in the main water supply system, which introduced water from the Vardar River into the network, with the aim of increasing pressure.
The Criminal Court in Gostivar has ordered 30 days of pre-trial detention for three suspects for polluting the water supply system. According to the court, the suspects face charges that carry a minimum sentence of four years in prison, while there is a risk of flight or influencing witnesses if they are released.
Inspections by the Food and Veterinary Agency, the police and representatives of the Ministry of Environment have revealed that an unauthorized pump was installed in the main pipeline, which took water directly from the Vardar River. After complaints from citizens and suspicions of pollution, the use of the water for drinking was banned.
The government has declared a 30-day state of emergency in Gostivar to manage the situation, while authorities are continuing to monitor the water and health conditions of residents.
Earlier, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated that the latest results of water analysis in Gostivar are good and expressed the expectation that, by tomorrow at the latest, the competent institutions will announce that the water is technically safe for use, reports Portalb.mk.
He stressed that the Prosecution has already identified responsibility for the contamination of the water supply system, but investigations will continue if the need arises to determine additional responsibility.
"Full responsibility for what happened, at the moment, has been identified. Further, we will continue to determine other responsibilities if necessary. We immediately provided drinking water. I thank everyone who joined with donations and in this way made the lives of the citizens of Gostivar safer," he said.
