Ombudsman’s report on pandemic
On September 15, the state of alert was extended in Romania for the fourth consecutive month.
Daniela Budu, 17.09.2020, 14:00
Romania is the EU country that took the most restrictive measures during the lockdown and the state of alert, in the sense of limiting some rights and liberties, according to the Ombudsmans report on human rights during March 16 — September 10. Romanias Ombudsman, Renate Weber, says that rights and liberties ca be restricted only by law, not by emergency orders or other acts of inferior level such as government decisions or ministerial orders. Weber said that Romania instated the longest period of restrictions and pointed out to the fact that the constitution only allows the restriction of rights and liberties for a limited period of time.
Weber also reached the conclusion that people infected with coronavirus had to stay in hospital during the state of emergency and the state of alert even if they did not have symptoms, and the situation continues at present. Also, the volume of activity in the healthcare system has doubled or even tripled during the state of emergency and the state of alert. Some of the measures taken by the authorities starting March 16 were good measures, that prevented the spread of the coronavirus, the document also reads. Also, in the period monitored, over 300,000 fines totalling about 120 million euros were given, in the context of an average income of 650 euros. However, the number of fines is very small as to the total population, which shows that most citizens observed the rules.
Renate Weber also said that she had recommended the government, ever since the coronavirus outbreak, caps on the price of basic foodstuffs and medicines, but they became more expensive during the pandemic. During this period, the Ombudsmans interventions have changed in keeping with the evolution of things in the country, the institution being concerned, among others, about the need for psychological assistance for the medical staff and some of the infected patients, the supply of protective equipment, the time spent in hospital by patients without symptoms and the lack of medical assistance for people suffering from other diseases.
Against the background of a rising number of new infections that have reached a record number this week, the authorities, including President Klaus Iohannis, have once more urged people to respect protection rules, all the more so as the cold season is nearing, and seasonl flu cases may emerge, for the prevention of which the same rules apply as in the case of the Covid-19. (Translated by Elena Enache)
