New calls to responsibility

Romania is facing a rise in the number of new cases of coronavirus infection, so autorities call on the population to be more responsible

Eugen Coroianu, 10.07.2020, 14:00

Romanian physicians
have once again called on the population to comply with health rules, after a
spike in new coronavirus infections. Several heads of
hospital have warned that new patients have started to crowd hospitals and that
intensive care units are about to get fully occupied soon. They have also
complained about the lack of specialized personnel, and also about the fact
that they are very tired after months of non-stop activity in the fight against
the pandemic. Physicians categorically reject the conspiracy theories that have
circulated lately, stressing the fact we are dealing with a very real and very
dangerous disease.

Doctor Virgil
Musta, the coordinator of the ‘Victor Babes’ Infectious Diseases Hospital in
Timisoara (southwest), says that the many new outbreaks are a consequence of
the fact that prevention rules are no longer observed:

It’s good that we want to be free. It’s good that we have the opportunity to
move around, but, if we are not responsible and aware, we will see, little by
little, the number of cases increasing, and the other countries, seeing the
growth in our country, will block our access. It is a pity that after three
months of sacrifices, but with very good results, we are now witnessing and
increase in the number of severe cases, in the number of deaths, and that means
we are now pulling down everything we’ve built so far. I hope, though, that
our community will understand that it is important to observe the three golden
rules: wearing a mask, social distancing and hand washing. These are not really
difficult measures and we will have to pay attention to them from now one, if we
don’t want to get sick, not only because of Covid-19, but also because there
will be other similar challenges.

We have relaxed
too early, and this could cost us dearly, is the message of the doctors in
Brasov (center), one of the most affected counties lately. They say the
population does not seem to be aware of the danger posed by the new coronavirus
and that the situation is very serious. The medical director of the Brasov
Infectious Diseases Hospital, Andreea Moldovan, warns that doctors have a hard
time coping with the large number of patients, especially since there is not
enough room in the local hospitals to treat those infected with the new coronavirus.
She has also drawn attention to the fact that, although the clinical forms of
Covid-19 in children are not as severe and unpredictable as in adults, there
may be cases that are difficult to treat and that might leave marks.

The virus is
real, it has no political colour, it cannot be banned by law and it does not
disappear by itself if its existence is denied, said Romania’s President Klaus
Iohannis on Thursday, when he made a new call for responsibility on citizens’
part. In turn, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban called for a general mobilization
of the institutions with control responsibilities, to verify compliance with
the measures aimed at preventing the spread of the new coronavirus and to
sanction all those who break them. (M.Ignatescu)