Moldova extends the public health emergency state in until April 15, introducing new quarantine measures.
The National Emergency Public Health Commission has adopted this decision, taking into account the analysis regarding the development of the epidemiological situation at the national and international levels. In addition to the previously in force rules regarding observance of the mask regime and social distancing, the Commission has introduced new quarantine measures. Starting February 17, shopping centers and commercial markets will operate on a new schedule. In particular, shopping centers will be open from Monday to Friday; they will not work on weekends. At the same time, food stores and pharmacies located on the territory of shopping centers will be available to visitors. From 17 February to 1 March, commercial markets, with the exception of agricultural markets, will only be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The activities of public catering establishments, including those located at points of oil products sale, shopping centers, airports, international ports and international border crossing points, are prohibited from 22:00 to 7:00. According to the decision of the Commission, all enterprises that trade or provide services in closed premises must provide simultaneous admission to the premises of a limited number of visitors, ensuring 4 sq. m of free area per 1 visitor. The allowed number of guests at festive events in restaurants and cafes has been reduced from 50 to 20 people. Also, the number of people in railway and road transport of district and inter-district communication, as well as for vehicles in local and municipal communication, is limited - within 50% of the total seats. Cinemas, nightclubs and discos remain closed. The ban on the activities of disco bars, night clubs, discos, cinemas remains. Theater and concert institutions and houses of culture can receive up to 50% of the total number of seats, while in halls with a capacity exceeding 500 seats, the number of spectators cannot exceed 250 people. During the public health emergency, government agencies and departments operate according to a special schedule - from 7:30 to 16:00 and a lunch break from 12:00 to 12:30. The Commission recommends to the heads of public and private institutions to establish a flexible or special working regime with the transfer to remote work of employees, whose activities do not require mandatory presence at the work place. The decision of the Commission notes that from the beginning of March 2020 to mid-February 2021, 170 186 cases of coronavirus infection were registered in Moldova: 157 427 cases of cure, 3 651 deaths, 9 108 active cases. It is reported that 3 146 people were hospitalized, of which 1 110 are in serious condition, 282 are in critical condition. // 16.02.2021 - InfoMarket.
