The number of people who contracted the novel coronavirus in Moldova during June 15-21 rose by 76%. Exhaustion can be the main cause of such a vertiginous rise in the number of infections among doctors, when the protection measures cannot be respected strictly. Such a state of affairs reveals the danger deriving from the shortage of medical staff, says an analytical note compiled by the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT), which is quoted by IPN.
The ADEPT experts note that on June 21, on the occasion of the Medical Worker’s and Pharmacist’s Day, the Head of State conferred awards on a group of health professionals in appreciation of the professionalism, assiduous work, devotion and dedication of the frontline healthcare employees fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Two persons were awarded the Order of the Republic, 32 – the Labor Glory Order, 53 - the Civic Merit Medal, 23 – “Nicolae Testemiţanu” Medal, and three persons got the horrific title “Emeritus Person”. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection handed over diplomas to 1,380 healthcare workers and pharmacists of public and private medical institutions and social assistance institutions.
The honors for Moldovan doctors came amid the worsening of the epidemiological situation in the country. On this occasion, Prime Minister Ion Chicu called on society to show maximum responsibility and obey the epidemiological norms. “It is important for the healthcare system to cope with this jump in the number of cases. The healthcare workers are exhausted and the situation is thus difficult. I therefore call on the population to show discipline and obey the rules. Besides places in the hospitals, we need professionals who would care for people there. We faced a shortage of staff before the pandemic too, but now this is more acute,” stated the official.
The note says that a series of anti-records in the fight against COVID-19 were set during June 15-21. The authorities consider this is the result of the relaxation of the measures that allowed to gradually resume economic activities. As a result, the number of those infected rose by 2,460 or by 27% on a week before; the number of infected healthcare workers grew by 270 on a week before; the number of deaths was the highest – 67 persons.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2,183 healthcare workers, which is 15.4% of the total workers, have contracted the virus. Of these, 557 are doctors, 865 are nurses, 620 are ancillary workers, 114 are doctor’s assistants, 26 are pharmacists and one is a paramedic.
During June 15-21, the number of infected doctors increased by 76%. Exhaustion can be the main cause of such a vertiginous rise in the number of infections among doctors, when the protection measures cannot be respected strictly. Such a state of affairs reveals the danger deriving from the shortage of medical staff.
The analytical note was produced with support from the Good Governance Department of Soros Foundation Moldova.
