Сoronavirus Chronicle in Moldova: Epidemic is Gaining Momentum Again

Marina DRAGALIN The second wave of coronavirus in Moldova was expected in the autumn but it seems that it is already there: this week the incidenceand mortality anti-record from COVID-19 got beaten several times The number of coronavirus infected in the world continues to grow and has already exceeded 7.5 million. More than 420 thousand people became victims of COVID-19. In Moldova, COVID-19 infection was officially confirmed at almost 11 thousand citizens, 375 people died. More than 40 thousand residents of the republic are suspected of being infected. The positive dynamics of the incidence that May demonstrated has long remained in the past. Removal of restrictive measures and the lack of correct anti-epidemiological models of behavior among the population led to a sharp jump in the incidence. Just this week, several anti-records were broken in terms of new cases numberand mortality, and yesterday’s statistics “broke the ceiling” - 406 new cases at once (despite the fact that they had not reached the level of even three hundred before). Moldova confidently entered the top 20 world leaders in mortality from coronavirus. According to expert Veaceslav Ionita, “of those infected this week, more than 50 people will not return home.” Something remains unchanged: among the sick there are still too many medical workers and the healthcare system itself cannot withstand the load. In addition to the difficulties with the number of coronavirus beds and protective equipment, the main problem is the small number or absence of doctors and other medical personnel. According to reports, district hospitals are losing the last specialists with sufficient qualifications to manage patients with COVID-19 - doctors get sick, go to quarantine or simply cannot withstand the load. “We have a medical system - as it is, it has already exhausted. Since March, these people have been at the forefront. Their strength is really running out, from all points of view and this must be taken into account especially in modern times when the crisis, instead of disappearing, is only exacerbated in reality,” expert Igor Botan commented. A return to harsh quarantine measures would probably help curb the new round of the epidemic however - and the authorities openly admit it - such a decision would catastrophically aggravate the economic crisis. “We were forced to resume many types of economic activity after May 15. Perhaps, if irresponsible politicians hadn't blocked 4.2 billion lei of Russian credit without any reason, solely for geopolitical reasons, we would have found an opportunity to extend quarantine for some time (this money would allow us to finance further steps to support business and citizens). Non-operating economy will push the country to a financial and budgetary collapse. Leaving people without salaries and pensions will have a cumulative effect on citizens' health, even more severe. We can no longer block economic activity, we cannot leave people without means. Accordingly, entire economic activity will have been unblocked by June 30,” Prime Minister Ion Chicu comments on the economic and epidemiological situation. According to experts, the coronavirus danger will persist in the world over the next few years. Obviously, it is necessary to find a different solution to contain the epidemic than strict lockdown. In March, the Supreme Security Council mentioned a certain strategy to fight infection, but it was never published. The expert community also notes that only short-term tasks are being currently solved, and a long-term planning is not deliberated. “We need to think about what we are doing in the medium and long term. In the short term, we closed markets and then opened them. In the short term, we treat patients. Yes, we still have resources, and we use them. What are our mid- and long-term plans? If we continue to neglect the virus existence today, then we will spend more money, have more patients. These people will not be able to work, we will not produce anything, and we won't have decisions for tomorrow,” Alla Tocarciuc, an expert in public health, said. Against this background, coronavirus management is predictably at the top and is actively exploited by the opposition to criticize the authorities. The Pro Moldova parliamentary group even announced that it is initiating a vote of no confidence in “health policy”.  According to its leader Andrian Candu, the authorities fail to cope with the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are not making enough efforts to stop coronavirus spreading in hospitals. “There have been many mistakes and violations. It is necessary to put forward a vote of no confidence in health policy so that the public knows who and in what way has led the situation in Moldova to 10 thousand COVID-19 cases,” Candu stated. Disappointment at the Moldovan authorities' "success" in their effort to control the COVID-19 epidemic is quite clear. At the same time, it is necessary to realize that the epidemic and economic crisis will not disappear tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or after the elections. According to German and Swedish researchers, a real economic crisis will emerge at the end of this year and will hit the world with all its force next year. “What is happening now is not a crisis, it is a shock, a blow to economy caused by a pandemic. The crisis itself is yet to come. There was an earthquake, now there will be a tsunami,” Mariana Rufa, Executive Director of the European Business Association, says. As noted earlier, Moldova, along with many other poor countries, turned to be in a stalemate, simply having no right or good solutions. Who can now firmly state what should be rescued - economy or health? Moreover, specifically in our republic the situation is significantly exacerbated by the growing domestic political crisis, which draws attention and resources of all the main political forces. In such difficult conditions, it might be helpful if the Moldovan establishment would at least for a while remove the shackles of exclusively electoral logic to enable the country's survival and concentrate on developing a long-term state strategy to fight COVID-19 and its aftermath. Otherwise, current coronavirus anti-records would not necessarily be final.