North Macedonia declared its first ever crisis situation in the country because of the health crisis had deteriorated, President Stevo Pendarovski said.

“A crisis situation has been declared on the northern and southern border in connection with the movement of migrants and refugees in those areas and the military and police are working together across the country,” the president said. He added that the military is providing limited assistance to the police and health care institutions but after the crisis situation was declared it have the power to expand its engagement.  

According to Pendarovski, the government can now manage all state resources at all levels of government, including private health care facilities, adding that they would not be nationalized but only managed to combat the pandemic.