The Coronavirus between disinformation and protection
Romanian authorities call for calm and advise the population to look for information about the new coronavirus from reliable sources
Corina Cristea, 26.02.2020, 14:00
Feeling increasingly exposed to COVID-19, which has spread significantly in Italy, the country that is home to a large Romanian community, but also to other countries in Europe, Romania is taking enhanced protection measures and is trying to get ready for any type of scenario.
Additional verification measures are being taken at the border check points, and people coming from risk areas are supposed to fill in forms, giving, among other things, information about the places they are travelling to. Also, they are informed about the sanctions that are in force for those who do not observe the 14-day home quarantine or those who provide false information.
In order to have in place an action plan needed to manage the situation created by the new coronavirus, the Emergency Committee has been summoned at the Interior Ministry, to discuss the strategy approved unanimously by all the institutions involved. The measures include the appointing, by the ministries of health and national defense respectively, of experts in charge of drawing up action scenarios, in keeping with the potential stages in the evolution of the coronavirus infection.
A decision was made to set up a special phone line for those who want to find information about the coronavirus. Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has convened the countrys Supreme Defense Council, to decide upon a strategy to combat a potential coronavirus outbreak in Romania. The head of state has called on both the media and politicians to show responsibility in managing the situation. With a view to ensuring a correct and transparent communication with the population and the media, an integrated communication group has been set up with the approval of the Romanian Government, subordinated to the Department for Emergency Situations, and all public communication on this topic is to be carried out via this structure.
As regards the population, we couldnt really speak of panic as such, but the hypermarkets have reported spikes in food sales, as it usually happens during the big holidays. In another move, given the fact that protection masks can no longer be found in pharmacies, the Competition Council is now conducting verification into potential deals between companies, which might take advantage of the situation and try and sell such equipment at unjustifiably high prices.
