The Operational Headquarters Meeting: Current Decisions

Advisability of further reducing the network of infectious diseases hospitals was discussed in the course of the meeting of the Operational Headquarters for prevention of the spread of coronavirus. The already noticeably reduced hospital capacity is loaded by 27% at the moment. The COVID hospital on the basis of the Dubossary hospital is at the process of activity completion. There are 14 infected patients there. Some of them are preparing for discharge; those citizens who need to continue their treatment will be transferred to other specialized medical institutions. Vadim Krasnoselsky focused on the procedure for transferring patients from one hospital to another: there are complaints from citizens about procrastination, which is unacceptable when it comes to people whose health conditions require particularly careful attention. The new building of the surgical department of the Republican Clinical Hospital is at the final stage of post-infection treatment. As for the further reduction of the hospital network, there are proposals to return to the standard activities of the departments of the Republican Clinical Hospital, which are still involved in the fight against COVID (cardiology and gastrology). There is an opinion that in the current sanitary and epidemiological situation, to meet the needs of the population of the republic in terms of treating patients with coronavirus, three hospitals are enough - Slobodzeya, Bendery and Rybnitsa. The President urged not to make hasty decisions and closely monitor the dynamics of the incidence. The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Operational Headquarters.

The vaccination campaign continues. There are over 40 offices in the republic where people can get a vaccine against coronavirus. The first stage of vaccination of pensioners who have declared their desire to be vaccinated with the Russian "Sputnik V" has been completed in some localities. They are moving to the vaccination of citizens who are actively in contact with the population on duty gradually. The facts of refusal to register citizens for vaccination by telephone will be checked on behalf of the President.

Members of the Operational Headquarters supported the proposal of the President to extend for another month, until the 1st of July the border crossing regime that was in force before the onset of the pandemic. Other quarantine restrictions are also softened. All organizations and institutions of the cultural sphere can start work – not only state and municipal, but also private ones. The main requirement is compliance with sanitary and epidemiological standards. A special commission must confirm its readiness.

They also discussed at the meeting the upcoming celebrations associated with the end of the school year. The last bell will ring in the schoolyards for those who graduated from grades 4, 9 and 11. The presence of parents is permissible, the presence of protective masks is mandatory. Organization of indoor events is prohibited. It is recommended to postpone the celebratory assembly in case of bad weather. It was recalled at the meeting that the school year for schoolchildren ends not on May 25, but a week later.

Graduates of preschool educational institutions were also given the go-ahead to say goodbye to kindergarten in a festive atmosphere. It is preferable to organize it in the fresh air, but in the case of kindergartens, there is no ban on assembly halls either: the main thing is to ensure the safety of children staying there. Regarding the upcoming graduation evenings, the opinion of the members of the Operational Headquarters is unambiguous: the presentation of certificates should be organized in a solemn atmosphere, but exclusively in open areas. Invitation to events related to the completion of the educational process, professional photo and video operators is permissible.

Another topic of discussion related to the educational sphere is practical training for students of universities and middle-level vocational education institutions. Previously, it was allowed to send students of the last two courses to practice. The Ministry of Education offers an expanded mechanism for the capital's agricultural and technical college, the industrial and construction technical school and the Rybnitsa polytechnic school, whose students need to acquire practical skills throughout the educational process. Practice is allowed for them in all courses.