Anti-COVID measures to be applied predictably, differently, depending on infection rate in each locality

Chisinau, 22 September /MOLDPRES/- The public health measures for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will be applied differently, depending on the infection rate in each locality. The decision was taken at today's meeting of the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission following consultations with specialists in public health and the business environment, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

The Commission has adapted the thresholds for the incidence of COVID-19 infection recommended by the World Health Organization to the needs of the health system and to the economic and social realities of the Republic of Moldova. These have been grouped into four alert levels, which will be determined based on the incidence of COVID-19 infection.

Thus, if the incidence of COVID-19 will be less than 50 cases per 100 thousand population for the last 7 days cumulatively, the green alert threshold will be set. This degree of alert provides for the mandatory wearing of a protective mask in all enclosed public spaces, including public transport, compliance with a physical distance of at least 1 m and hygiene rules.

The yellow alert threshold will be set in cases where the incidence of COVID-19 will be between 50 and 99 cases per 100 thousand population for the last 7 days cumulatively.

In this case, the educational institutions will operate in the usual regime, with the physical presence of the students, and the public catering units will organize their activity at maximum capacity, in compliance with the protection measures in force.

The yellow alert threshold provides several scenarios for organizing private events: the participation of up to 100 people in indoor spaces, with a space of at least 4 m2, or the participation of a maximum of 300 guests, with the obligation for them to present the COVID-19 certificate. Visitors to cinemas, indoor and outdoor concert halls, nightclubs or festivals will also need to present their COVID-19 certificate.

If the incidence of COVID-19 infection will be between 100 and 249 cases per 100,000 population for the last 7 days cumulatively, an orange alert threshold will be set.

Such a scenario provides for the activity of general education institutions with physical presence, while technical and higher vocational education institutions will operate online. The catering units will organize their activity at maximum capacity in the outdoor spaces, and in the indoor ones, based on one of the options: with the use of at most 35 percent of the existing seats inside or with the use of at most 75 percent of the number of existing seats inside, with the obligation for all customers to present the COVID-19 certificate at the entrance to the unit. Vaccination certificate will also present the visitors of private events (weddings, baptisms, festive meals), which will be organized with the participation of up to 200 people indoors, respectively 250 people outdoors. At a capacity of 50% will activate the theaters, cinemas, concert halls, with the obligation for all visitors to present the COVID-19 certificate.

The red alert threshold will be activated if the incidence of COVID-19 infection will be 250 cases or more per 100 thousand population for the last 7 cumulative days. In this case, the general education institutions will operate in the regular regime, with the physical presence of the students, and the technical and higher vocational education institutions will operate in the online regime. Public and private entities will organize the work regime with the introduction of work at home, or will opt for a differentiated work schedule.

At the same time, visitors' access to medical institutions and placement institutions will be prohibited. The catering units will organize their activity at maximum capacity in the outdoor spaces, and in the indoor ones with the use of at most 50 percent of the existing number of places and with the obligation that all customers present the COVID-19 certificate at the entrance to the unit. The organization of private events (weddings, baptisms, festive meals) will be allowed with the participation of up to 100 people in indoor spaces or, respectively, 150 people in outdoor spaces, with the provision in the service space of at least 2 m2 for each person with the obligation to present the COVID-19 certificate.

The public health measures to prevent the spread and control of COVID-19 infection, valid during the state of emergency in public health, will enter into force on October 1, 2021.

Based on these indicators, the National Agency for Public Health is obliged to publish every Monday, the alert threshold for the national level and for the administrative-territorial units of the first and second level Chisinau and Balti and Gagaguzia.

Currently, based on the indicators of case incidence in the Republic of Moldova are: 366 localities in green code, 156 localities in yellow code, 311 - in orange code and 178 - in red code.

At the same time, CNESP members decided that the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection will develop a package of measures to encourage vaccination of front-line employees, whose professional activity involves direct interaction with citizens, with a high degree of risk of infection.

The Extraordinary Public Health Commission met for the first time in the new composition as provided by the amendments to the Public Health Law, namely, with 50% of the composition doctors and public health specialists. The commission includes representatives of Gagauzia, Chisinau municipal authorities, university professors, heads of departments, hospital directors, epidemiologists, doctors, so that decisions are based on scientifically substantiated evidence but also focused on people's needs.

Note: Covid-19 certificate means any of the following documents:

vaccination certificate against COVID-19 with complete vaccination schedule (on paper or in digital format); proof of immunization is valid if at least 14 days have elapsed since the completion of the complete vaccination schedule;

the medical conclusion confirming that the person has undergone COVID-19, between the 15th and 180th day (6 months) or a confirmation of the presence of anti-COVID-19 antibodies; the confirmation of the presence of anti-COVID-19 antibodies is valid for the period of 90 days from the date of the investigation;

the result of a diagnostic test for COVID-19 (rapid diagnostic test for AgSarsC-oV-2 performed no more than 48 hours before or PCR test for COVID-19 performed no later than 72 hours before).

Photo: Government