A number of 722 cases of COVID-19 were recorded last week and 187 of these were reported in the Transnistrian region. The number of SARS-CoV-2 infections increased by almost 30% compared with a week before. The ratio during December 18-24 was 24.8 cases per 100,000 people, IPN reports.

The National Public Health Agency said that 71 cases of COVID-19 affected children younger than 14. Two men and a woman aged between 66 and 85 died from complications associated with COVID-19.

Forty-nine cases of seasonal influenza were reported last week and most of these were n Chisinau. There were recorded 15 cases of flu in children aged between 0 and 4, 12 cases in children aged between 5 and 14, 12 cases in people aged between 30 and 64, etc.

Since the start of the monitoring period, October 2 to December 24, 85 cases of influenza, 75,873 cases of acute upper respiratory tract infections and 4,495 cases of severe acute respiratory infections were recorded.

Specialists recommend to further take protective measures, such as keeping social distancing, avoiding crowded places, observing hygiene rules, including hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene. It is also indicated to ventilate enclosed spaces, wear masks in medical institutions and see the family doctor when the first symptoms of COVID-19 infection appear, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle pain, rhinorrhea or stuffy nose, headache, chill, weakness or tiredness.

“Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains the most effective method of avoiding serious cases of illness and death. Go to your family doctor and ask to get this vaccine,” the Agency urged.