Albanian President Ilir Meta urged the citizens to respect the restrictive measures imposed by the authorities in their efforts to slow down the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Meta spoke to media reporters after a session of blood donation to aid children suffering from thalassemia at the St. Paul's Catholic Cathedral in Tirana today. After donating blood, the Albanian President repeated his call to the citizens.

“The citizens must respect the restrictions, because they are meant to protect us all. Carelessness may be fatal. We see what is happening in our neighbor Italy which is a very developed country. We don't need experiments, let's respect the measures. They should not be seen as privation, but as necessary protection”, said Meta, adding that the Armed Forces that have spread in the streets are there in function of order and discipline.

“This situation cannot be faced only with doctors, it requests commitment from all the institutions. This is a new crisis. WHO guidelines have also changed and I believe the preventing mechanism will improve every day and the solidarity of all is needed for that”.