Romania closes bars, restaurants, barbers, cinemas and bans church services in fight against coronavirus

Romanian authorities on Tuesday announced they were putting into place unprecedented measures in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which has sickened 222 people in Romania so far.

Interior Minister Marcel Vela announced sweeping measures, including closing restaurants, bars, clubs, cinemas, malls, betting shops, barbers and hairdressers and cinemas.

He said church services and sporting events and some outdoor events would also be suspended starting from Wednesday.

The announcement came a day after President Klaus Iohannis decreed a state of emergency to enable authorities to tackle the virus outbreak.

Under the new rules, hotels will remain open, but their restaurants will be shut with clients restricted to getting food through room service. „Catering firms can sell food and drink as long as customers do not remain in that place.”

Vela said open-air events with more than 100 people would also be banned, which would apply to events such as concerts or some religious services. Participants will need to maintain a distance of 1 meter between them.

Foto: Inquam Photos/ Octav Ganea

Flights to and from Spain will also be suspended for 14 days, starting Wednesday evening. The announcement seemed to be prompted by the case of a man who had tested positive for COVID-19 and caught a commercial flight from Spain to Romania, potentially infecting up to 60 other passengers.

Flights connections to Italy have already been cut, and the suspension of flights will be extended, he said.

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