Romania extends state of alert

Pandemic restrictions to remain in place in Romania for a further 30 days.

Eugen Coroianu, 12.02.2021, 13:50

Romania will be in a state of alert
for another thirty days over the coronavirus pandemic. The extension was proposed
by the National Committee for Emergency Situations chaired by prime minister Florin
Cîţu and means that a series of restrictions to prevent infections are kept in
place.

These measures include the wearing of
facemasks by all persons above the age of 5 in public spaces, at the workplace,
in shops and on public transport; the possibility to enforce isolation and
quarantine; restrictions on activities involving groups of people, with strict
rules as to the type and place of gathering allowed; and a curfew on movement
at night-time, between 11 pm and 5 am, with certain exceptions. Some measures
vary depending on the local infection rate. The prime minister said, however,
that the infection rate will be calculated based on the different formula
starting in two weeks’ time, in keeping to that used in all EU member states.

Speaking about the reopening of
schools on 8th February, president Klaus Iohannis said the situation
is good, but emphasised the need for restrictions to be maintained. He said
10,000 schools are open for in-person learning and in more than 6,000 others teaching
is conducted partly in class and partly remotely. Over 2 million pupils are back
in school in Romania, accounting for some 70% of all Romanian pupils. The
president, who met education minister Sorin Câmpeanu on Thursday, warned that
we must be realistic, the pandemic is not over.

Almost 250 pupils and 330 education
staff tested positive for Covid only days after the beginning of the new
semester. The
education minister said they all caught the virus during the holiday and called
on parents to keep a close eye on their children’s state of health. He advised them
to keep them at home if they notice the slightest symptom.

President Klaus Iohannis again urged
people to get the vaccine when they are offered one because that’s the only way
to defeat the pandemic. He said more and more vaccine doses are being delivered
to Romania from one month to the next and that more vaccination centres will be
set up. The vaccination programme is being rolled out in stages in Romania, and
at the moment, the demand for vaccination exceeds the supply of available doses. (CM)