Romanian authorities reported nine new deaths from the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the death toll to 628 in Romania.
The patients who succumbed to COVID-19 were aged 41 to 97, and had underlying health issues. More than 11,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed since the outbreak.
The new death count, the highest in Eastern Europe, came ahead of a meeting chaired by President Klaus Iohannis in response the virus outbreak. Romania will end a state of emergency on May 15, although there will still be restrictions amid fears of as second wave of the virus.
One of the issues likely to be discussed is the re-opening of schools and how Romania will respond to pupils needs.
The General School Inspectorate has proposed a staggered return to classes, with pupils in the 8th and 12th grade, who have exams, returning first.
The plan said that classes should be no no larger than 15, and social distancing measures would be respected.
In the first two weeks, those pupils would sit an oral exam so teachers could mark them, and request to sit exams. It is unclear whether the plan would allow pupils to opt out and resit the year.
Ten pupils will sit exams at a time and schools will use CCTV cameras in exam halls. Appeals will be dealt with online.
In the following two weeks, pupils from other years would return and have classes in two shifts. Classrooms will be disinfected between the shifts and pupils will learn in groups of 15.
Pupils from the first four years will continue to do remote learning.
Iohannis will discuss COVID-19 measures with Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, Health Miister Nelu Tataru, Interior Minister Marcel Vela, Education Minister, Monica Anisie, and the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat.
