The woman who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, who returned from Italy by a Milan-Chisinau flight on March 7, is in a stable, but serious state owing to a number of diseases from which she suffers, such as bilateral bronchopneumonia, diabetes mellitus, and hipertension. In connection with this case, in the meeting of the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission the authorities issued a nationwide orange alert for COVID-19, IPN reports.
Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu said the woman went to see a doctor first on February 28, when she had fever. Cough appeared later and on March 4 she went to the hospital in a serious state. Doctors prescribed antibiotics to her. The woman decided to return to Moldova without presenting information about her state to flight attendants or the Border Police.
There were 145 passengers on the plane by which the woman returned to the country. Ten of them were Ukrainians. The Ukrainian authorities were information about this case through diplomatic channels. The persons with a high risk of catching the virus, who sat close to the woman in the plane, were also contacted and informed about this case, being treated as suspected cases. During the night, 45 people from the same flight were called and informed that they must stay at home in quarantine for 14 days. The family doctors were notified of these persons so that they supervise them. In case of symptoms, the persons must call 112. All the hospitals have protection equipment and medicines needed for treating viral infections.
Prime Minister Ion Chicu called on the population to be responsible and to follow the recommendations of specialized authorities. “We must be concerned, but there are no reasons for panic,” he stated.
National Public Health Agency director Nicolae Furtună urged the people who return from abroad to show responsibility and to correctly fill out the epidemiological forms and to give up going to public places so as not to expose oneself and others to risks. The parents should isolate at home the children if these have symptoms of viral infections, flu or coronavirus and ask for medical assistance at home.
Nicolae Furtună also said that the number cases of viral infections, flu and cold has increased during the past two weeks and two educational institutions were closed on a temporary basis because of this reasons. Therefore, the vacation of students should be extended.
Minister of Education Corneliu Popovici said it is too early to take such a decision, but they will ban holding particular events at school.
Minister of Defense Victor Gaiciuc said the parents and relatives of soldiers were banned from visiting the military units.
As many as 33 samples were taken from persons who arrived from risk areas, mainly from Italy. Thirty-two of them tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
