Coronavirus Chronicle in Moldova: Epidemics Has not Reached Its Peak

Marina DRAGALIN Breaking news of this week: Moldovan authorities are loosening lockdown measures for citizens and, more importantly, business. However, the connection of this decision with the epidemiological situation is questionable A novel coronavirus has infected 3 million people worldwide and claimed more than 200 thousand lives. Compared to other European countries, Moldova’s pandemic is not so “expensive”: a little less than 3.5 thousand COVID-19 cases were officially confirmed, and the number of deaths is only approaching the first hundred. Contrasted with the world statistics, everything is not that terrible, as it seems at first glance. However, despite the fact that a comparison with other countries is still in favor of Moldova, this indicates by no means a favorable epidemiological situation. Yes, the number of confirmed cases is not horrendous, but only officially 40 thousand people with suspected coronavirus are under medical supervision. The epidemics growth rate is still extremely high, and mathematical models bode no good for Moldova. Expert calculations warn about the second and third waves of the epidemic which are expected to roll across the country in autumn and winter. "This crisis will not end in May. Experts say there will be a second and third wave, in autumn or winter. That is why we must understand that in the Republic of Moldova we will constantly have several thousand people infected with COVID-19. This situation will last long, until a vaccine appears and a mass vaccination takes place," the President of Moldova Igor Dodon recently stated. Against this background, the ongoing parade of Moldovan anti-records on the coronavirus incidence among medical workers looks even more ominous than usual. Every day, a quarter of new cases consistently fall on medical staff. Such dynamics are extremely dangerous for the epidemiological situation throughout the country. Unfortunately, there are too many examples when doctors, instead of being a recovery symbol, become a source of infection. Of recent cases is a coronavirus outbreak in a nursing home for the elderly in Iabloana village, which was incited after one of its residents returned from the Glodeani regional hospital where he had been treated. However, in the context of the predicted second and third waves of the disease, the other side of the issue is more important. The infected personnel becomes dysfunctional for a long time (if not forever), and in a few months there will be no one to treat even 2-3 thousand people at a time. Unless the country's leadership sees this as an opportunity to solve the employment problem of labor migrants who have returned from EU countries, in particular those with a medical education (secondary or higher) who looked after sick Europeans. Carelessness of citizens and officials does not improve the situation. It is enough to cite as an example one hundred of people who gathered at the funeral meal in Otaci disregarding external quarantine attributes - masks and gloves. Or the head of the Taraclia cultural service who, according to his subordinates, "during an emergency situation celebrated his birthday at the district community center in the folk music orchestra cabinet". It is worth noting that the Moldovan authorities responded extremely incoherently to quarantine violations. Cases have generated widespread interest when a young family was fined 45 thousand lei for being in the park with a small child, a pensioner was fined 22.5 thousand lei for visiting a grocery store, and a woman - 16 000 lei for reading a book in the park. For reference, the mayor of Milestii Mici village, who brought people out on a clean-up day in violation of the state of emergency, was fined only 300 lei, although during the state of emergency fines of tens of thousands of lei are foreseen, especially for legal entities. Business who tries to adapt to lockdown and survive, also gets fined. Attempts to protect itself from unreasonable penalties end in nothing. “There were rumors in the Court of Appeal halls that we had no chance, that the authorities asked the court to keep all fines in order to boost the budget. Such actions by the state, lack of fair justice, lack of respect for people, push us away from any activities in our country and force us to close enterprises and leave this state where there is no law and common sense,” the owner of a small restaurant in Chisinau tells who was fined 75 thousand lei for allegedly working during a pandemic. The story of boosting the budget, unfortunately, is very similar to the truth. The current economic situation, the increased needs of the healthcare system and social spending require a radical review of the budget policy for 2020. The humanitarian supplies coming from Russia, China, the USA, Turkey, Poland and Azerbaijan slightly reduce the severity of the problem connected with lacking protective means and medical equipment, and the loans promised by the European Union and the World Bank in the amount of 100 and 52.5 million Euros give the country a chance not to die of starvation, but that's it. Therefore, the authorities' attempt to "harvest" fines is understandable, as well as the decision to re-open non-food stores. However, it should be understood that easing lockdown is a necessary measure that makes it possible to at least slightly let off steam and reduce pressure in society. This decision hides under the guise of unjustified optimism the authorities' attempt to prevent the socio-economic situation from running up to a critical mass and prepare for a protracted war with coronavirus.