Omicron – testing and vaccination

All social activities in Romania remain impaired by the COVID-19 pandemic

Bogdan Matei, 29.11.2021, 13:55

Romania seems to
have overcome the fourth wave of the pandemic, although many fear the fifth is
just days away. This may be fueled by the emergence of a new strain of the
virus, Omicron, developed in south Africa and considered extremely contagious.
A TAROM aircraft will bring home the remaining Romanian citizens who were left
stranded in South Africa after several flights were cancelled. Under the EU’s
Civil Protection Mechanism, a few other dozen EU citizens will be able to board
the Romanian aircraft. Starting this week, after the National Day mini-holiday,
rapid saliva tests will be performed periodically in the case of pre-school and school children. Testing kits will be accompanied by instructions manuals,
and the procedure must be carried out in a fully sanitized environment. Pupils
will be tested either in school or at home, by parents, based on the decision
of each schooling unit.

Education trade unions have threatened to stage
protests unless testing is performed exclusively at home. Union leaders also
warn that saliva tests do not observe any health safety regulation, as they are
expected to be handled by at least three other people before reaching pupils,
given that every component is wrapped and sealed individually in a regular kit.
Education Minister, Sorin
Cîmpeanu, responded saying that testing kits reached schools broken down in
components everywhere in Europe, and that teachers can help assemble them.
Meanwhile, interest in vaccination remains low. Less than 50,000 doses of
Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson were administered on
Sunday in Romania, of which less than 11 thousand were the first dose.
According to authorities, some 7.5 million people have completed the full
vaccination scheme, whereas 1.5 million people have taken three doses of the
vaccine.

The Chamber of Deputies in Romania will try to adopt a bill, similar
to other European states, making the so-called green COVID certificate
mandatory in workplaces. The new prime minister, Liberal Nicolae Ciucă, has
called on MPs to vote the document, whereas Health Minister, Social-Democrat
Alexandru Rafila, claims the certificate must be introduced when the infection
rate goes up for three consecutive weeks and eliminated when the infection rate
goes down. (VP)