Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu offered her condolences to the family of the woman who died as a result of infection with the novel coronavirus. “This human loss should unite our society and should also make the healthcare system even more determined to further provide assistance and struggle for everyone’s life that is valuable for us,” the minister was quoted by IPN as saying in a press briefing.

In the morning of March 18, the minister announced the first death from COVID-19. The woman died last night after receiving treatment for seven days.

The 61-year-old woman returned from Italy’s Padova on March 11 and was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital “Toma Ciorbă” with acute respiratory infection and bilateral pneumonia. Her state of health worsened on March 15 and she was transferred to the National Clinical Hospital “Timofei Moșneaga”. The woman suffered from chronic diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, 30 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Moldova by March 18. As many as 11,200 persons are under the supervision of family doctors at home.