Bucharest in red coronavirus tier

Bucharest enters red tier status following surge in coronavirus infection rate.

Roxana Vasile, 20.10.2020, 14:00

Like in many other towns and cities around the country, Bucharest has
also moved into red tier of coronavirus restrictions as the rate of cumulative
infections in the last two weeks has surpassed 3 per 1,000 inhabitants. Under the
new restrictions in place as of Tuesday, wearing face masks is now mandatory in
all public spaces, both open and enclosed, for a period of two weeks. Also, restaurants,
cafes, cinemas, theatres and gambling halls are closing and, last but not least,
schools and kindergartens, which just reopened on 15th September, are
moving to online learning. The spokeswoman for the Bucharest Prefecture Mariana
Stancu Ţipişcă makes some clarifications:

Creches and after-school childcare facilities are allowed to stay open
under a joint order from the ministers for healthcare, education and research and
labour and social protection. The University will decide itself whether to hold
classes face-to-face, given that it is an autonomous body.

President Klaus Iohannis criticised the lack of a clear and coherent plan
for Bucharest allowing people to know what to expect. On Monday, when many
called for the resignation of the prefect of Bucharest Gheorghe Cojanu for his
unclear statements about the infection rate, president Klaus Iohannis pointed
out:

Nationwide efforts are needed to halt the Covid-19 epidemic. The
citizens are the partners of the authorities, and the authorities have the
obligation to treat the people with respect. This means, among others, communicating
decisions clearly and coherently, giving sufficient advance notice and providing
predictability when restrictions become necessary that affect their lives.

The Social Democrats in opposition levelled harsh criticism at the
government. Here’s their leader, Marcel Ciolacu:

The government’s decisions did not take into account the experts’
opinions and were only taken based on political and electoral considerations. The
red tier Bucharest has move into now proves this, as well as the complete lack
of solutions, especially when it comes to the spread of the outbreak. We are
faced with one of the biggest health, and in our view, also economic, crises.

While Romanian politicians from across the political spectrum are
preparing for the parliamentary elections of 6th December, ordinary
Romanians are watching in fear as the health crisis is deteriorating and tougher
measures are being taken to contain the spread of the virus.