The intensity of the epidemic process continues to grow amid an upsurge in the number of new cases of COVID-19 and associated deaths. As many as 9,443 new cases were recorded a week ago, with the municipalities of Chisinau and Bălți going much beyond the red alert level, said Svetlana Nicolăescu, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health. The authorities sound the alarm about the increasing pressure exerted on the health system, IPN reports.

Svetlana Nicolăescu noted that the large number of new cases of COVID-19 in the two municipalities, Chisinau and Bălți, is due to the dense population and to the public transport system that favors the spread of the virus. The infection rate is much higher than the incidence for a red alert level also on the peripheral districts of Sângerei, Basarabeasca, Glodeni and Anenii Noi.

Moldova so far has got over 307,000 cases of COVID-19. The death toll from the disease rose to 7,048.

The official said that 88% of the patients with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital do not have a completed vaccination series. The same is true about 91% of the patients under intensive care.

Svetlana Nicolăescu noted the pressure on the health system is growing as the number of hospitalized persons with COVID-19 continues to rise, as does the number of patients in intensive care. Of the 2,140 infected persons who are now in the hospital, 145 are in a very serious state and 17 of them were put on a ventilator.

A number of 8,748 persons with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19 are receiving treatment at home, while 16,470 persons are under supervision at home.