Seven persons, six of whom arrived from Italy and one from Korea, were tested for the novel coronavirus. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection said the samples tested negative.

According to the Ministry, the seven persons, including a woman from Strășeni who recently returned from Italy, had symptoms associated with the infection with the novel coronavirus when they went to see a doctor.

The authorities in Moldova earlier this week declared a yellow alert in connection with the risk of infection with COVID-19. A public health emergency could be declared given that an increase in infection cases has been reported in Italy that is home to many Moldovans. The death toll from the virus in Italy on February 27 reached 17, with over 650 persons being infected and almost 50 being cured.

According to the most recent data, over 80,000 cases of infection with COVID-19 were confirmed worldwide, with the number of deaths amounting to 3,000.