National extraordinary public health commission declares state of emergency in public health all over Moldova as of 30 November till 15 January 2021

Chisinau, 27 November /MOLDPRES/ - The National Extraordinary Public Health Commission (CNESP) has ruled to establish emergency state in the public health sector all over Moldova on the period 30 November 2020 – 15 January 2021. The decision was taken at a today’s new CNESP meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Ion Chicu, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   

„We have got to have a large number of daily cases and this evolution is worrying. Unfortunately, this epidemic continues to be spread in the world, in the region, as well as in Moldova. Therefore, we are set to come up with a string of restrictive measures, coordinated with specialists in the field, which will contribute to the ceasing of the spread of the epidemic,’’ the PM said.  

Health, Labour and Social Protection Minister Viorica Dumbraveanu reported that 102,894 cases had been confirmed so far, of which 10,880 cases are active, 3,499 people are hospitalized, 253 ones – in intensive therapy and 52 people are connected to the ventilation system. The hospitals are occupied at the level of 90 per cent in the Chisinau city and in the Moldovan districts – at 85 per cent. In one week, another hospital with a capacity of 260 places for COVID-19 patients will be activated in the Chisinau municipality.  

Moldova has already received a consignment of 100,000 anti-flu vaccines. As for the anti-Covid vaccine, the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry (MSMPS) coordinates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization possibility of delivering the vaccine for 20 per cent of Moldova’s residents.  At the same time, the World Bank is willing to finance the states, in order to be supplied with anti-Covid vaccines.  

Prime Minister Ion Chicu said that he had addressed the prime ministers from the Baltic States, Latvia and Lithuania with the request to distribute a part of the shares of vaccines they are to receive from EU to Moldova as well. ‘’I will also discuss with my counterpart from Hungary, colleagues from Romania and Russia for these vaccines to be delivered to Moldova, as soon as they undergo all testings and approvals,’’ the PM noted.   

At the same time, to motivate the population to donate blood and COVID-19 convalescent plasma, which, according to specialists, is efficient in treating the patients infected, PM Ion Chicu asked to prepare the amendment for the financial remuneration with 3,000 lei of blood donors for the COVID patients, which is to be approved at the next cabinet meeting.

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection, CNESP ruled to ban the activity of night clubs (disco clubs, karaoke, disco pubs), starting from 28 November 2020. At the same time, as of 30 November, the restaurants, pubs and coffee houses will be able to work till 22:00. The public nourishment units will be banned from working in the time interval 22:00-7:00.  

On the period of emergency state in the public health sector, the organization and holding of scientific conferences, sports competitions, Olympiads with the physical presence of people will be prohibited. Also, the presence of audience in theatres, movie theatres, concert halls and community centres will not be allowed.  

At the same time, the public and private institutions will establish a special regime of work, with only the strictly necessary staff attracted to the working place, in order to ensure the enterprises’ functionality. The distance work will have to be organized for the personnel, whose activity does not need the compulsory presence at the working place.    

At the same time, the timetable of travel of the public transport, including the number of transport units, will be adjusted according to the needs in the peak hours.  Drivers, taxators and passengers will be obliged to wear protective masks during the travel.  

The Commission will allow the organization of one-off mass rallies and festive events with the participation of less than 50 people, with the observance of the public health measures and compulsory compilation of the event’s  epidemiological record lists.

photo: Government