UPDATE. Health minister urges Romanians to wear masks, respect physical distance rules, as new coronavirus cases surge to 460

Foto: INQUAM/Virgil Siomionescu

The number of new coronavirus soared to 460 on Thursday, a figure similar to the peak of pandemic in Romania.

It was the highest daily figure since April 22 and only the eighth time since the pandemic spread to Romania that the number of new cases have exceeded 400 in one day.

More than 12,500 tests were carried out in the last day, giving an infection rate of 3.66%, the Strategic Communication Group said.

Health Minister Nelu Tataru spoke prior to the publication of Thursday’s figures and said: “Unfortunately, there will be a high number of cases today, but I hope numbers will get back down in the coming days. I appeal to people to respect hygiene rules, take precautions and maintain physical distancing.”

“We are not worried (but it means) we meed to take precautions,” he told national news agency Agerpres.

Romania has now reported a cumulative total of 25,286 cases. Thursday’s spike came after 321 new cases were reported the previous day.

Ten people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, taking the death count to 1,565.

There are 199 people being treated in intensive care for their symptoms.

Almost 18,000 people have recovered from the disease.

More than 1,100 people are in institutionalized quarantine to stop the spread of the highly transmissible virus and 72,650 are in lockdown at home, under medical supervision.

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