Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has rolled out several new steps to halt the spread of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. On Thursday, Rama told his Facebook users that private cars will no longer be allowed on the roads in a half a dozen regions for about three days from Friday 6am to Sunday 12pm. Minutes later, he declared the closure of all garment factories and also call centres that mostly serve the Italian market.

On Wednesday, Albania closed bars and restaurants following the first recorded death caused by the coronavirus. By Thursday afternoon, the number of cases had risen to 23, mostly people with a history of recent travel to Italy, the country at the centre of the pandemic spread in Europe and a country with which Albania has multiple economic and social relations. All the other infected people are currently in a stable condition, the Ministry of Health said.

“I apologize 1,000 times but this war cannot be won otherwise,” Rama wrote on Facebook, while announcing the 72-hour curfew during which only transportation of basic needs such as food and medicine will be allowed.

Also on Thursday, Albania Central Bank Governor Gent Sejko imposed a three-month loan holiday for both business and families. All those who wish to, can now postpone the payments on their loans without suffering penalties.