THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO SUPPORT KOSOVO’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19, 26 August, 2020
The United States Embassy Pristina turned over eight temperature (thermo) scanners to support Kosovo’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These scanners, a USAID donation, will be placed at Kosovo’s border entry points, including Pristina airport and four land border crossings.
Since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Kosovo, USAID has worked with frontline workers and communities to slow the spread, care for the affected, and equip them with the tools needed to fight back against COVID-19. In addition to the thermo scanners, earlier this year USAID distributed 239 hygiene kits to health centers, 8,950 family kits, and 1,200 kits for children throughout all of Kosovo’s 38 municipalities. In addition, 50 brand-new ventilators were recently donated to support package that included the ventilators’ accompanying equipment, installation, warranties, service plans, and online webinars. USAID is also providing testing equipment that will strengthen laboratory capabilities to increase the number of tests conducted in Kosovo.
“The placement of these temperature scanners at eight points of entry, including Pristina International Airport, will allow for the adequate screening of incoming passengers—contributing to prevention efforts to stop further transmission within Kosovo,” said Deputy Chief of Mission Nicholas J. Giacobbe, Jr. at the turnover ceremony with Minister of Health Minister of Health Armend Zemaj, Pristina International Airport Finance Director Mr. Omer Kuyucu, and UN Development Coordinator Ulrika Richardson.
The provision of thermo scanners and testing equipment is part of the nearly $1.6 million the U.S. State Department and USAID have committed to Kosovo in response to the pandemic to stop further transmission and mitigate COVID-19’s impact. For more information about USAID’s response to COVID-19, please visit https://www.usaid.gov/coronavirus-covid-19. To learn more on the U.S. Embassy’s assistance to Kosovo please visit https://xk.usembassy.gov/ and https://www.usaid.gov/kosovo or contact the Embassy’s Press Office.
