Eleventh new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Moldova as a result of the examination of 49 samples taken from persons suspected of being infected. Three of these are cases of import, while eight are cases of local transmission. The number of confirmed cases thus rose to 23, IPN reports.

After the March 15 meeting of the Single Command Center for managing the crisis generated by COVID-19, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu said there was recorded the first case of infection among children. The virus was communicated to the child by a mother who returned from Italy.

President Igor Dodon, in the same news conference, said 17 of the 81 terrestrial border crossing points remain open: 11 with Ukraine and six with Romania. The Moldovans can enter and leave through these points, not yet the foreigners. As of tomorrow, penalties will be imposed on the persons who do not remain isolated at home and do not respect other measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

As of March 16, all the retail outlets in the country, except for drugstores, grocery stores and gas stations, will be closed. All the markets will be closed, regardless of the type of goods they sell. The canteens, cafes, restaurants and other public eating places will also be closed as of tomorrow. These could yet provide catering services.

At midnight on March 16, air traffic will be fully closed and foreigners will be unable to enter Moldova through terrestrial frontier posts, except for those with diplomatic status and those who have the residence in Moldova or who accompany freight.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. The authorities in Moldova issued a red alert on March 13 given the confirmed danger of a possible public health emergency.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 143,247 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed worldwide in the period between December 31, 2019 and March 14, 2020. The death toll rose to 5,407.