A new military decree
A new military decree has been issued in Romania, which includes provisions for containing the effects of the new coronavirus pandemic.
Leyla Cheamil, 10.04.2020, 14:00
On Thursday night the Romanian authorities announced new measures to combat the spread of the SARS-COV 2 in Romania. The interior minister, Marcel Vela, announced that military decree no. 8 was issued, which extends the measure of suspending commercial flights to and from Spain starting on April 14, except for flights by state-owned aircraft, flights for freight and correspondence transport as well as for humanitarian flights.
The new decree also extends the measure, during the entire state of emergency period, of closing temporarily, totally or partially the border-crossing points, a measure that was regulated through the decisions of the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations. Another provision in decree no. 8 refers to cross-border workers who will be exempted from the measures of home isolation or quarantine when entering Romania from Hungary, if they do not show symptoms associated with COVID-19.
The new decree allows people whose job is commercial fishing and beekeeping to leave their homes after 10 p.m. Also, the authorities have announced several decisions in relation to the upcoming Easter holidays. This Sunday, Catholics are celebrating Easter while the Orthodox Christians the Palm Sunday. The Orthodox Easter will be marked on April 19.
Interior minister Marcel Vela announced that agrifood markets will remain open: “The agrifood markets will remain open for the entire state of emergency period for those farmers who produce a professional certification document and who observe the measures aimed at preventing the spread of the new virus. Farmers are allowed to travel from the production place to the agrifood markets and back, as well as inside the markets, based on a self declaration and the professional certification document. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday before both the Catholic and Orthodox Easter holidays, companies selling agrifood products can extend their working schedule depending on their needs.”
Given the upcoming Easter holidays, the interior minister has once again urged the population to respect the social distancing measures, underlining that people are expected to show discipline, determination and solidarity. He has given assurances that the authorities’ efforts will most certainly produce results on condition that the population plays by the rules. Minister Vela also reiterated his recommendation to the Romanians abroad not to come home, so as to protect their loved ones.
In another development, the new military decree also provides for a ban on exports of several products such as wheat, barley, oat, maize, rice, wheat flour, soya, sunflower, oil, sugar and breadstuffs. (translation by L. Simion)
