{"id":448341,"date":"2020-05-31T19:21:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-31T19:21:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/?p=448341"},"modified":"2020-05-31T19:53:54","modified_gmt":"2020-05-31T19:53:54","slug":"lifting-coronavirus-restrictions-in-moldova-risks-and-future-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/lifting-coronavirus-restrictions-in-moldova-risks-and-future-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Lifting coronavirus restrictions in Moldova – risks and future costs"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Another 153<\/strong> new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus were confirmed today in the Republic of Moldova, informed<\/a> the Minister of Health, Labour and Social Protection (MHLSP)<\/em><\/strong>. Altogether, the number of infected persons reached 8 251<\/strong>\u00a0cases since the beginning of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

In the last week, there was a decrease in the number of confirmed cases by 11%, according to the specialists from the National Public Health Agency (NPHA). At the same time, the number of recovered cases increased by 5% as compared to the week before. Still, the cumulative incidence of cases reported in Moldova, when compared to other states, increased to 2 224 cases per one million population (21 out of 46 countries, according to statista.com<\/a>), while the death rate increased from 67 deaths per one million population to 80 deaths per one million population.<\/p>\n

While most of these numbers are interpreted positively by the Moldovan authorities, there are still restrictions\u00a0on which the pandemic evolution depends. In case they are lifted to soon, the next wave of infection cases could begin. If they are kept for too long, a lot of businesses and family budgets would suffer. Therefore, a lot of future risks and costs depend on the next steps taken by officials.<\/p>\n

Unbalanced restrictions’ lifting<\/h3>\n

The last decision<\/a> of the\u00a0National Extraordinary Public Health Commission\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>lifted certain restrictions imposed during the state of emergency in the country. For example, it was decided to open all open-air markets in the country, including the ones from big cities (Chisinau and Balti) starting June 1, relaunch the activity of the shopping centres, except for restaurants and entertainment units located inside – June 8, allow religious ceremonies, including\u00a0meetings in public places for celebrating important\u00a0religious holidays – June 5. Starting June 15,\u00a0gyms and restaurant units will be reopened as well.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the Government of the Republic of Moldova decided to cancel this year high school graduation exams. “Given the exceptional circumstances, it was necessary to adopt some measures aimed at reducing the risk of contagion of middle school and high school graduates and teachers. The organisation of graduation exams involves a series of indoor activities and a large number of persons (high school graduation exams – about 40 000 people, the Baccalaureate exams about 20 000 people), which increases the risk of infection, even though the necessary protection measures would be followed,”<\/em><\/span> said the\u00a0Ministry of Education, Culture and Research<\/strong>\u00a0(MECR).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Parliament approved<\/a>, on 21 May, a draft law on the cancellation of national graduation exams of the 2020 examination session.<\/p>\n

Not everyone agreed with the taken decisions though. “As the markets open, where the congestion is very high, as the supermarkets worked during severe quarantine, in the same way, examinations could have been carried out with all the restrictions imposed to avoid the spread of the new type of coronavirus,”<\/em> declared\u00a0<\/a>former Minister of Education,\u00a0Corina Fusu,<\/strong> for ZdG.<\/p>\n

“Many decisions on restrictions’ lifting have no logic. One of them would be the reopening of gyms with no access to the bathrooms or locker rooms. […] Strategies were lacking in Moldova. Instead, we enjoyed daily statistics, not well-determined actions. We have paid for it, both with the health and lives of people, as well as with a downgraded economy, “<\/em> said<\/a> the WHO expert and former Minister of Health, Ala Nemerenco<\/strong>. The former dignitary argued that Moldova is way behind other European countries when it comes to the pandemic evolution, however the restrictions are lifted at the same time.<\/p>\n

“The number of new cases, the serious or critical cases is still very high. At the same time, the number of deaths is high. In other European countries people are more educated in this regard. They know what shift work means and what sanitary hygiene means. Our people still don’t know anything about this. I still argue that the Rahmanish Easter (religious holiday postponed for the beginning of June in Moldova) should be cancelled. I am also against the markets’ reopening,”<\/em> head of the NPHA,\u00a0Nicolae Furtuna,<\/strong>\u00a0claimed<\/a> for ZdG.<\/p>\n

Restrictions are not for everyone<\/h3>\n

The opposition MP, Sergiu Litvinenco<\/strong>, filed a complaint with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to fine President Igor Dodon<\/strong> because he didn’t comply with the rules imposed during the pandemic period. First, the president expressed a superficial and uninformed opinion regarding the novel coronavirus, saying it is not more than a flu that affects merely older people.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Dodon recently posted<\/a> several photos and videos on social media where it can be observed that meetings with local public authorities, economic agents, citizens, including older people and children, were conducted without wearing a protective mask and\u00a0 keeping social distance, especially indoors.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The law is the same for everyone and must be equally applied. Igor Dodon must be punished for the obvious violation of the mandatory rules on prevention and control measures of epidemic diseases!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nevertheless, Minister of Internal Affairs, Pavel Voicu,<\/strong> declared<\/a> that no deviation from rules were found. “We did not fine him because he has immunity. We have not seen any deviations from the Commission’s provisions so far,”\u00a0<\/em>he said.<\/p>\n\n\t\t