Culture, responsibility to win war against pandemic

Chisinau, 3 September /MOLDPRES/- The Covid-19 pandemic is more than a sanitary-epidemiological phenomenon. It is a plague that has found unprepared and disarmed a world extremely confident in achievements and performance. There is no doubt that the extent and dramatic consequences are a daunting task for all countries of the world, but especially for those that do not yet have consolidated economic systems.

Moldova, through its institutions, is working hard to stop the pandemic, but unfortunately neither limited resources nor the behavior of a part of our society allow us to imprint a positive dynamic situation. In particular, this refers to a large group of citizens who carelessly ignore requirements of specialized institutions aimed at preventing the dangerous coronavirus.

The first and most dangerous group in this category are those who allow themselves to be manipulated by conspiracy theories, which induce the idea of inventing COVID for political purposes or that this serious and dangerous disease does not even exist. The messengers of these ideas create an important current of opinion that directly endangers the assimilation by the population of a sanitary conduct meant to prevent the spread of the disease.

Healthcare institutions do not demand much from citizens: wearing face mask, washing hands, disinfection and compliance with social distancing. And, if necessary, compliance with self-isolation or quarantine. For now, wearing a mask is mandatory indoors.

Unfortunately, each of us can find with natural concern that we have many cases when in the most vulnerable areas we encounter frequent cases when both customers and employees do not follow the rules.

A recent survey shows that non-compliance with health regulations is explained by two reasons: do not believe in COVID or do not tolerate the discomfort caused by wearing a mask.

The fight with COVID is our war on life and death.  We ought to win it.

There is bad idea among Moldovans that the disease will end when we all get sick and gain collective immunity.

The World Health Organization and major medical companies say the vaccine will be available next January. We have to endure another 4-5 months and then we'll go slowly to normality.

The figures we have these days are not encouraging at all. Yet, our society has the power to mobilize and minimize losses.

The almost desperate call of doctors, responsible officials, relatives of those who have suffered must be heard in villages and especially in cities of Moldova. We can align with states that have outstanding results through health culture, responsibility and confidence that the war of our generation with the worst pandemic of the last century will end well for all of us, and the coming years will show us that we are safe in the future.