The death toll from the novel coronavirus reached 1,500 on Saturday, as Romania reported more than 300 cases for the fourth day in a row.
The Strategic Communication Group said that 330 new cases had been confirmed in the last 24 hours, following 11,200 tests. Sixteen patients succumbed to the virus in the last day.
Just under 3% of those tested were confirmed to have the virus, a similar ratio to recent days.
There have been a cumulative total of 23,730 cases, of which some 16,000 have recovered.
There are 190 patients being treated in intensive care, slightly higher than in recent days.
The failure to keep the spread of the virus which under control is a concern for public health and Romania’s overstretched health system, the government and medical experts say.
Raed Arafat, the country’s chief expert for emergency situations, said it was possible that Romania would postpone lifting further restrictions.
Romania imposed a two-month state of emergency in mid-March and on May 15 began to relax the strict lockdown. It further eased restrictions on June 1 and since Monday, shopping malls have reopened.
Thousands flocked to shopping centers on Saturday to shop and traffic was like a regular weekend. It is compulsory to wear mask in enclosed public spaces and in public transport and to maintain physical distancing, but compliance has been patchy.
Romania remains one of the worst-hit countries in the region by the pandemic.
Some 1,335 are in institutionalized quarantine and more than 80,000 are in home isolation under medical supervision.
