Moldova's National Extraordinary Public Health Commission takes more measures to cease spread of coronavirus

Chisinau, 9 March /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Ion Chicu today evening chaired a meeting of the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.    

The participants in the meeting unveiled updated information on the evolution of the epidemiological situation in Moldova and measures undertaken by the authorities to prevent the spread of the epidemic of the COVID-19 virus. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, as many as 109,695 clinically confirmed cases of infection with COVID-19 and 3,811 deaths have been reported till 9 March 2020.   

Health, Labour and Social Protection Minister Viorica Dumbraveanu informed about the evolution in the condition of the person infected, noting that there was progress. Presently, tests for seven suspect cases are considered in laboratory. An appeal was conveyed to people who enter Moldova to fill in standard epidemiological cards, which is necessary to undertake operative measures in case the infection is confirmed.   

The prime minister asked the competent authorities to regularly make public updated information. As for the evolution of the epidemiological situation in Romania and Ukraine, the participants in the meeting discussed the opportunity to cease the education process in schools starting from 11 March till 15 March. Specialists of the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry declared for not stopping the education process, stressing that pupils were not in risk group and their presence at schools provided a better possibility to supervise them. The participants in the meeting ruled not to cease the education process, describing this measure as disproportionate. The Commission will consider this measure, depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation.  

The Commission ruled to take restrictive measures, meant to prevent the import and spread of the infection, among which the ceasing of the flights to and from Italy, banning air operators from taking onboard passengers who travel from Italy, Iran, China, South Korea to Moldova, obliging air operators to inform the passengers of the flights, who were embarked from Italy, Iran, China and South Korea, including those who transited these states, to Moldova about the need to declare on their own responsibility the information provided for in the epidemiological cards and about the placing in quarantine at home for a 14-day period.