Coronavirus Chronicle in Moldova: on the Anti-Records Wave

Marina DRAGALIN The coronavirus continues gripping Europe and the entire world. The epidemiological situation in neighboring countries is developing to negative scenarios. Waiting for an influx of new cases, Moldova is expanding testing program and is getting ready for a shortage of hospital beds. Despite international community’s efforts, the coronavirus infection does not stop its "victorious" march across the planet. The World Health Organization has once again registered an anti-record for the number of new infections per week that reached almost 4 million. To date, 57.2 million people have been positively tested for COVID-19. More than 1.36 million people have died. The virus is spreading at an accelerating pace. From July to September, the daily increase in cases was in the range of about 200-300 thousand and in November it confidently jumped into the range of 500-700 thousand. Only yesterday 690 thousand new cases were identified. The largest number of cases is still being recorded in Europe. In terms of the number of infections North and South America follow the range. Among individual countries, the largest number of patients is observed in the USA (over a million), India, Italy, France and Brazil. Despite experts generally speak of some improvement in the epidemiological situation in Europe, it still remains extremely difficult. In the EU, the Apennines are leading in the number of deaths from COVID-19; by Thursday morning the number of deaths exceeded 47 thousand. A new anti-record was set for daily mortality: over 730 people died. There is a shortage of intensive care places in Italy despite the fact that the number has been doubled; in addition, there is a shortage of medical personnel who possesses critically ill patients care skills. France holds the "leadership" as in terms of the number of infections (more than 2 million infected have already been identified), as in terms of mortality per million people, it ranks third in the world, only slightly behind the United States and Brazil. The country's authorities promise to vaccinate the population at the beginning of 2021. However, according to polls it is in France that people feel a great distrust for such preventive measure. Population's perception of quarantine restrictions complicates the epidemiological situation. Thus, the vote of the German Bundestag on amendments to the law on protection against infectious diseases was accompanied by mass protests in the center of Berlin - according to media reports, from 5 to 10 thousand people gathered at the rally. The innovations aim to agree and clearly spell out the conditions under which restrictions will come into force whilst next coronavirus outbreaks. Opponents of the amendments believe they restrict fundamental rights and freedoms and violate the country's constitution. Slovakia also saw a protest action. Thousands of people came out to protest against the "coronavirus terror". Participants consider unreasonable the demands to wear masks, take tests and observe isolation at home, while the ban on gatherings is being considered to be a gross violation of civil rights. Such response to restrictive measures is partly explained by people’s fear of the next lockdowns, which counter not only the virus, but also national economies. On the other hand, this practice has proved to be somewhat effective. The current situation in Belgium will suffice to illustrate the point. For several weeks the situation was critical. Today, thanks to strict restrictive measures, all indicators show decreasing rate (including the first decrease in the number of deaths), and the number of infections is halving every ten days. Alarming news about remdesivir, the only drug that was believed to be effective against COVID-19, underscores the relevance of quarantine decisions. Today the World Health Organization, based on the conclusion of an international group of medical experts, recommended against using this drug to treat coronavirus: the WHO report says that it has no “important effect” on reducing the infection-related mortality rate or the need for mechanical ventilation, and does not improve other important medical criteria. The experts concluded that more research evaluating remdesivir is needed. Unfortunately, Moldova is keeping up with its continental neighbors. Our country is in 19th place in Europe in terms of the number of COVID cases, and 13th in terms of the number of deaths: there are almost 94 thousand confirmed cases, 2091 of them are deaths. The recent days saw another daily anti-record in the number of new cases - 1607. And, judging by the creeping diagram and given the intention of the Health Ministry to increase the number of tests up to 7 thousand per day, it is not the last. There are 16.3 thousand active cases in Moldova today. Expanding the testing program will obviously lead to an increase in this indicator by at least several thousand. It is not surprising that the authorities are warning about possible deterioration of the situation. In particular, Prime Minister Ion Chicu noted that the number of cases is increasing and the health care system is under enormous pressure. “Despite the fact that hospitals and intensive care units still have beds now, in a few weeks the medical system will be overwhelmed to the limit, and we will have big problems with hospitalizing new patients with coronavirus,” the politician said. At the same time, he also stressed that the authorities have no plans to introduce restrictive measures, “we do not want and, frankly speaking, we cannot introduce measures that stop economic activity and prohibit citizens to move freely”. In the current conditions, the Moldovan population have no choice but to take responsibility for their own health, be attentive to their general condition and constantly use personal protective equipment against infection.