Steep rise in Covid-19 cases

The number of new COVID-19 infection cases is on the rise in Romania

Leyla Cheamil, 28.01.2022, 14:00

Romania hit a new record this week in terms of new
COVID-19 cases in 24 hours-over 34,000, with the number of tests conducted also
going up significantly.

We
had predicted this development, caused by the higher transmission rate of the Omicron
compared to previous variants of the virus. We still have severe cases caused
by the Delta variant, which still accounts for 20 to 25% of the infections and
which reflects in the number of patients in intensive care, the health
minister Alexandru Rafila said.

In
fact, he expects the figure to skyrocket next week to over 40,000 daily
infection cases. A downward trend in infection might begin only after February
10, Rafila also said.

In
recent days, the testing capacity has increased substantially, as over 3,800 family
doctors around the country have registered to provide tests, and in the capital
Bucharest 30 test centres have been opened in hospitals. The authorities want this
testing procedure extended across the country.

The
largest number of new cases is reported in Bucharest and in the counties of Timiş
(south-west), Bihor (west), Iaşi (east) and Cluj (north-west). The number of
patients in hospitals and in ICUs, as well as the number of related deaths, is
also on the rise. Minister Alexandru Rafila warned that in certain counties the
capacity of healthcare facilities is stretched to the limits. In Cluj county,
68% of the hospital places set aside for COVID patients are filled, which is
the highest occupancy rate in the country. According to the authorities, when
this rate goes over 75%, schools will switch to online teaching.

After
the new record in COVID-19 cases, the health minister says that for the time
being there are no reasons to panic and schools will stay open except for the
places with clusters of at least 3 infections in each class.

In
this context, the authorities once again emphasise the importance of face
covering, of physical distancing and other hygiene measures, as well as of
vaccination.

In
fact, the National Public Health Institute has announced that over 85% of the
COVID-related deaths reported last week in Romania were among unvaccinated
patients, and over half of the Romanians who tested positive during the same
period had not received the vaccine. Of the vaccinated people who got the virus,
over half were either infected shortly after vaccination, or more than 6 months
since receiving the last dose.

Since
the start of the vaccine roll-out in Romania, 50% of the adult population have
received at least one vaccine dose, and the vaccination rate for Romania’s
total population is near 42%. (A.M.P.)