Number of new coronavirus infections on the rise
In Romania, the total number of COVID-19 cases passes 24,000, but the high rate of daily new infections is alarming
Ştefan Stoica, 22.06.2020, 14:00
For the better part of last week, Romania saw over 300 new COVID-19 cases every day. The total number now passes 24,000, with the death toll standing at 1,500. Around 17,000 patients have recovered, which is a piece of good news.
What causes concern among the healthcare and governmental authorities is the high rate of daily new cases, putting constant pressure on the medical system. The authorities say they have been considering a rise in the number of cases, but admit that the situation seems to get worse than expected before deciding to further lift restrictions on June 15.
Experts blame the increase on some peoples failure to strictly observe hygiene and physical distancing rules. At present, beaches and outdoor restaurants are open, and religious services may be held within churches. The question is whether the rules are complied with, and inspections have shown that this is not always the case.
The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, announced that such inspections will be stepped up in the coming period. They will be targeting primarily hospitality units and public transportation, to check whether people are wearing face masks and keeping their distance.
The healthcare minister Nelu Tătaru hopes that the large number of new infections reported lately will not lead to a new wave of the epidemic. He said all relaxation measures had been based on peoples cooperation and responsibility, and that he was counting on them in the future as well.
Nelu Tătaru: “There are certain regulations, some restrictions, or precautions, so to say, that are still in place and must be observed. We resorted to a third stage of relaxation precisely relying on citizens civic responsibility and on the fact that these terms will be complied with. We hope this will prove to be just a sporadic and progressive increase, and not an exponential one, so as to be able to consider further relation as of July 1, and a quasi-normal summer holiday after mid-July or early August.
The only normal development for the time being is the political game. Two months into the truce entailed by the state of emergency, the Liberals in power and the Social Democrats in opposition have virtually resumed their battle. The Social Democrats spokesman, Lucian Romaşcanu, accused the Government, among other things, of hiding the truth about the number of novel coronavirus infections. The number of people tested varies with the temporary interests of the Liberals, Romaşcanu added.
PM Ludovic Orban dismissed the accusations and argued that there is no way the coronavirus infection data can be manipulated. He explained that the information from all testing labs are recorded and centralised in a public system.
(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
