July 25, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, the Institute of Public Health completed PCR analysis of 561 samples for the new coronavirus, among which 82 results were COVID-19 positive. The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Montenegro is currently 2040.
Samples were sent for testing from the municipalities of Podgorica 42, Bijelo Polje 12, Berane 7, Niksic 6, Bar 5, Tivat 4, Pljevlja 2, Rozaje 2, Ulcinj 1, and Herceg Novi 1.
No COVID-related deaths were reported. The total number of confirmed deaths since the beginning of June is 34.
Another 21 patients recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries since June 14 to 348.
The Clinical Center of Montenegro is treating 27 Covid-19 patients, six of whom are in the Intensive Care Unit and are in a life-threatening condition.
"There are 15 patients in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and 10 in the Internal Clinic, six of whom are in the Intensive Care Unit and are in a life-threatening condition. One patient is connected to mechanical and four to non-invasive ventilation," the KCCG said.
The General Hospital in Berane announced that 61 COVID-positive patients are being treated there and that four have a severe clinical picture.
Some hospitals and health centers have recently received N95 protective masks, which the Chinese manufacturer claims are not for medical use; Vijesti has learned.
Health workers said that a contingent of medical equipment was delivered to the institutions and that there were allegedly non-standard masks among them, of which there was a plentiful supply. One of the doctors told Vijesti that these masks, which the manufacturer states are not for medical use, do not give them the security to work with patients who potentially have Covid-19, or are confimed to be infected with the new coronavirus.
Montefarm, which distributed these masks, claims that they are the responsible company as the supplier of all health institutions and that such a mistake would not be possible. They said that the mask box model KN95 GB2626-2006 says "not for medical use," but according to their interpretation, it means that they have no medical purpose but are a protective device, i.e., they are intended to protect users and are kept as personal protective equipment," Montefarm's response reads.
The institution claims that this model has a filtration and efficiency of protection against pathogenic particles, including viruses, of over 95 percent.
Montefarm said that these masks are part of one of the many donations.
"The mask in question is on the list of approved models, the FDA has confirmed its effectiveness and the list was updated on July 16, 2020," the response reads.
The website of the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the permeability of the filters on some examples of these masks did not meet the criteria. "The results of the assessment confirm that some of these products have poor filter efficiency and are of poor quality," the US CDC website states.
