Serious situation in Suceava

The northern Romanian city of Suceava and eight neighbouring villages are in quarantine.

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Roxana Vasile, 31.03.2020, 14:00

Last week, when official reports indicated that half
of the people to have died of Covid-19 in Romania were patients at the County
Hospital in Suceva, many feared that the eastern region of Moldavia could
become Romania’s own Lombardy. It now turns out these fears were not unfounded.
As of Monday night, more than a quarter of the total number of coronavirus infections
in Romania were in Suceava, with the percentage even higher when it comes to
deaths. What’s more, of all the infections among medical staff, some two thirds
were at Suceava County Hospital, that is over 180 doctors, nurses and orderlies.
This makes Suceava the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in Romania.

The authorities have consequently decided to place
this city and eight surrounding villages in total lockdown. The army and the
police have installed road blocks on all roads entering and leaving the area.
The only movement permitted is the transport of goods and raw materials and the
movement of people carrying out economic, security and public administration
activities. The interior minister Marcel Vela told Radio Romania he is
confident people from the area will understand the situation.

We took this decision also with their best interests
in mind, to contain the spread of the infection throughout the whole county,
the whole region, and ultimately, the whole of Romania. I’d like to assure the
inhabitants of Suceava county that we’re doing our best to help and support
them. We are and will be together.

According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in the
region, given the large number of medical staff who have already contracted the
new coronavirus or are still in isolation or quarantine, one of the biggest
problems in Suceava is the lack of specialised medical staff. The county
hospital is now being reorganised to be able to run as best as possible using
the available staff. There is also a shortage of protective equipment and
testing kits. The Suceava prefecture has requested the creation of a field
hospital.

Local residents are also waiting for the
authorities to provide measures of support, fearing they might lose their jobs as
a result of the suspension of many economic activities. Tourism is one of the
worst hit sectors, especially as this time of the year would normally be very
busy. Suceava is one of the most picturesque regions of Moldavia and the home
of many tourist attractions, including old monasteries, medieval citadels and popular
spa resorts. (Tr.: CM)