BUCHAREST, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu was diagnosed with COVID-19, according to an announcement made by his communications adviser late Tuesday.
The prime minister carried out corresponding tests due to the appearance of some symptoms characteristic of the disease, and the result turned out to be positive, Boris Harea, communications adviser of the prime minister, wrote on his social media account.
Harea did not disclose other details about the prime minister's condition, but noted that the head of government will continue to perform his duties, but will work remotely.
Chicu participated on Monday in the regular working meeting with outgoing President Igor Dodon and Parliament Speaker Zinaida Greceanii, according to local media in Moldova.
Chicu told local media earlier that many of his cabinet members got infected with the novel coronavirus.
As early as Aug. 29, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbraveanu was diagnosed with the virus.
Moldova re-entered a nationwide state of public health emergency on Nov. 30 in response to increasing COVID-19 patients.
Under the state of public health emergency until Jan. 15 next year, various public events are prohibited, while the business hours of the catering industry are also restricted.
Meanwhile, the government has also expanded mandatory mask-wearing from indoor public spaces to all public places.
According to the World Health Organization, face masks should be used as a part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress COVID-19 transmission and save lives.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreaks, wearing masks in public has been widely accepted in Asian countries like China, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam to limit the spread of COVID-19.
According to the latest data released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, 1,709 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 119,204 in the country with a population of 3.5 million.
With 22 more fatalities associated with the virus, the death toll now stands at 2,460, the ministry announced. Enditem
