Coronavirus cases surged on Tuesday to a near 10-week high with the capital almost in the red scenario meaning a new series of restrictions of residents.
The Strategic Communication Group said there were 8,861 new cases in the past 24 hours. Some 43 people with the virus died in the past day.
It was the highest figure for a single day since Nov. 4 and confirming that Romania is in the fifth wave.
Bucharest reported an incidence rate of 2.97 per 1,000 people on Tuesday just under the red scenario. When a place enters the ‘red zone’ of 3 cases per 1,000, it triggers new restrictions such as early closing hours, restricted numbers at gatherings and a nighttime curfew.
The rate is measured over a 14-day rolling period.
Romania is currently entered a fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with the more contagious omicron variant leading to more infections in recent weeks.
Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said the government would decide on any new restrictions, rather than his ministry.
The minister visited a hospital in the eastern city of Constanta on Tuesday where a fire broke out in the intensive care ward treating Covid-19 patients on Oct. 1, 2021, killing seven.
