TIRANA, Albania – Albania’s prime minister has threatened to restore lockdown measures after a sudden increase of new infections which he ascribed to people ignoring health guidelines.

Edi Rama urged Albanians Thursday to respect social distancing, wear masks and gloves and observe other precautions. He said otherwise authorities might reintroduce measures enforced during the lockdown, when all borders, cafes, restaurants, and other places where people gather were closed for about two months.

Restrictions were eased more than two weeks ago, but that was followed by a sudden increase in infections over the past three days.

“The economy falls and rises. The dead are not resurrected,” Rama said in a Facebook video message.

As of Thursday Albania had reported 35 deaths and 1,385 confirmed COVID-19 infections.