Half of Romania in Covid-19 ‘red scenario’ as curfew and other restrictions imposed to stem virus spread

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Coronavirus cases continued to rise on Monday in Romania as authorities imposed a curfew, shut schools and made masks compulsory in public across the country to slow the spread  of the virus.

Reflecting the recent spike in cases, about half of Romania was in the ‘red scenario,’ with more than 3 cases per 1,000 for the last fortnight.

The capital, Bucharest, now has 5.14 cases per 1,000 and four counties in the northwest Transylvania region have more than 6 cases per 1,000 people.

Two other counties in Transylvania have more than 5 cases per 1,000 and three counties in the same region have more than four cases per 1,000.

Only two counties were in the ‘green scenario’ of less than 1.5 cases per 1,000 residents: Olt county in southern Romania and Vrancea in the east.

Under the new restrictions which came into effect Monday, schools and kindergartens will be closed countrywide and pupils will move to online learning. Employees should work from home if possible, the government has said.

Masks will be mandatory in public all over the country regardless of the number of cases in any area.

People have been told to stay indoors between 11pm and 5am, and are allowed to go out only for medical reasons,  work or to catch a train or bus, to help a child or elderly person and they need to fill out a form.

There were will a curfew for shops, stores and restaurants with outdoor seating which will have to close at 9pm.

Parties and celebrations in public venues are off for the next month to reduce contact but people can go to each other’s homes it appears.

“We are not talking here about members of the same family who meet at home, “ Raed Arafat, head of the National Committee for Emergency Situations was quoted as saying by national news agency Agerpres.

The new measures came in as Romania reported 3,240 new coronavirus cases, after only 11,445 tests were carried out. Testing lags at the weekend.

Some 28.3% had positive outcomes, a similar figure for the past week/

There were 130 Covid-19 related deaths in the past day Some 12,700 hospital beds are occupied by SARS-CoV-2 patients of which 1,076 are in intensive care.

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