New measures to contain the pandemic

Government in Bucharest has adopted new measures to benefit both companies and the medical field

Daniela Budu, 23.10.2020, 14:00

The
Romanian executive on Thursday endorsed several measures aimed at assisting population
during the pandemic. The measures are about increasing the hospitals capability
to treat Covid-19 infections in their IC units, which the country’s Prime
Minister Ludovic Orban describes as the government’s key objective.

An emergency
ordinance has been endorsed allowing for the patients with mild forms of
infection to be treated at home under the surveillance of family physicians.
Health Minister Nelu Tataru had earlier made an announcement about the
aforementioned ordinance against the shortage of beds in hospitals to treat the
infection. The present shortage of medical personnel has promoted the government
to discuss the idea of hiring 200 young physicians who have completed their
residency and are going to specialize in Intensive Care, ER, Pulmonology,
Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Radiology.

These physicians will be able
to get jobs in hospitals with job vacancy after a period of 6 months in an ER
unit in Bucharest. During the same session the government endorsed an emergency
ordinance on paid days off for parents who are staying at home with their
children after their schools have been closed down because of the pandemic.

The Labour Ministry is already
paying parents whose children are at home because their schools are struggling
to contain an outbreak. Under the
endorsed ordinance, these payments have been extended to also comprise schools
in the yellow or green zones in terms of gravity. Labour Minister Violeta Alexandru
has given assurances that all the situations schools might get in will be
covered.

As for
the economic environment, the government endorsed an emergency ordinance
proposed by the Finance Ministry on rescheduling debts accumulated by companies
since the onset of the state of emergency until October 25th.
December 15th is the deadline for enterprises to apply for a rescheduling
in the next year. Finance Minister Florin Citu has presented fresh elements
comprised by the emergency ordinance endorsed.

Florin
Cîțu: Conditions have been improved a little bit. No
more forced executions until December 25th, and between October 26th
and December 25th no interest or penalties for these tax
liabilities, since the beginning of the state of emergency until December 25th.
After another round of talks with companies, we have added an extended period
for VAT payment until January 25th.

Florin
Cîțu had earlier announced these economic measures aimed at boosting the
business environment and Romania’s economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

(translated by bill)