The Bălți Clinical Hospital will also accept persons suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, chiefly from northern Moldova, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu was quoted by IPN as saying after the March 28 meeting of the National Focal Point. On March 27, there were confirmed the first two infections with COVID-19 in the municipality of Bălți.

The minister said a number of hospitals were prepared to accept such patients. They will have the status of regional hospitals, but will deal primarily with cases of COVID-19. “The hospital in Comrat is ready. The hospital in Cahul will be prepared to serve the southern districts. Such measures are needed in order to ensure regional coverage,” stated Viorica Dumbrăveanu.

Ten persons with COVID-19 are now in a serious state at the National Clinical Hospital. One patient was put on a ventilator. The minister didn’t provide details about the state of health of the infected persons treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital “Toma Ciorbă”. A number of 25 patients were in a serious condition at this hospital on March 28.

Of the 199 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Moldova so far, 56 were imported, while the rest are cases of local infection. Among the infected persons are at least 28 medical workers – nine physicians and 19 medical assistants. The novel coronavirus was also detected in a driver and seven nurses.

A state of emergency is in place in Moldova as of March 17.