The novel coronavirus disease, under control

Romanian authorities have taken measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

Leyla Cheamil, 05.03.2020, 13:50

A number of cases of infection with coronavirus have been confirmed in Romania, tens of people are under institutionalized quarantine and more than 11 thousand are isolated at home, under strict monitoring. This is why Romanian authorities have taken a series of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease. Summoned at the Interior Ministry, the National Committee for Emergency Situations on Thursday drawn up several scenarios and improved safety measures.

Minister Marcel Vela explains: “We empowered the technical-scientific support group dealing with highly contagious diseases to take, under special circumstances, technical decisions without the approval of the National Committee for Emergency Situations. These decisions are to be first sent to all members, who have 8 hours to make amendments, after which they are considered adopted. After this period, at the first meeting of the Committee, these decisions will be adopted, modified or abrogated.

In his turn, the head of the National Committee for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, has said that the decision to isolate a city is not taken at local level, but at national level, after a thorough analysis of the situation. Such a decision is not currently considered for any Romanian city, not even for Timisoara, where most cases of infection are confirmed. Arafat has said the situation is under control and the origin of the infection for each case is known.

In this context, President Klaus Iohannis has said that authorities are now focusing on preventing the virus from spreading. He has urged people to be calm and balanced, so that social life should not be affected by fake news. In the context of steps taken at national level to prevent further infections, the Home Affairs and Foreign ministries have informed the diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Bucharest on the situation. The measures taken apply to both Romanian and foreign citizens, who come to Romania from the affected areas. Romanian authorities insist that information on the spread of the virus should be taken exclusively from official sources.

(Translated by Elena Enache)