The pandemic is expanding. It depends on everyone’s responsibility how fast we overcome this pandemic, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu was quoted by IPN s saying after the meeting of the National Focal Point. She noted the challenge confronting now Moldova didn’t depend on us, but it depends on us how protected we are.

The minister voiced hope that the negative effects of COVID-19 will decline next week. In this connection, it was decided to declare next week a nonworking period for the public sector employees. She called on the people to stay at home and to refrain from trips and visits, especially to parents or persons from the risk group.

Of the 177 infections with the novel coronavirus confirmed so far, 125 were transmitted locally. By area, the largest number of infections was recorded in the municipality of Chisinau (63) and in Hâncești district (22). Ten cases were reported in the Transnistrian region.

As many as 39 persons of those diagnosed with COVID-19 are aged between 50 and 59, while 34 are aged 30 to 39. The eight infected children are in a medium grave state. Among persons aged between 20 and 29 are 29 infected persons, while 25 persons who got the virus are aged 60 to 69.

The authorities urge the population to stay at home, to keep the social distance of at least 1 meter and to wash the hands with water and soap as often as possible. The persons with symptoms of viral infections should contact the family doctor or, in emergencies, the 112 service.

A state of emergency was declared in Moldova for 60 days as of March 17. A number of 177 cases of COVID-19 were conformed in Moldova by now. Two infected persons died.