Romania’s government on Monday extended the state of alert for 30 days, keeping in place restrictions to help authorities to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.
It was the fifth time the government had announced a month-long state of alert in which people are required to wear face coverings in indoor public places and crowded outdoor places.
In a new development, the government banned public gatherings of more than 100 people for the next month. Romania holds local elections on September 27.
Voters will be required to follow rules such as physical distancing and disinfecting their hands when they enter and leave a polling station.
Some 692 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Monday and there were 22 Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.
Schools reopened on Monday for the first time since March. About 70% of schools fully reopened with teaching staff and pupils have to wear masks, disinfect their hands and desks are set 1.5 meters apart.
Although Monday’s new cases were lower than previous days, only 7,331 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours. Some 9.44 % of those tested were confirmed to have the virus.
The 22 virus-related deaths was the lowest daily figure for fatalities since August 3, and the number of patients being treated in intensive care units fell to 456.
Bucharest reported new cases, more than any other place with 168 new cases, while five counties didn’t report a single new case.
There has now been a total of 104,187 cases and 4,185 Covid-related deaths,
.Some 43,000 people have recovered from the virus.
There are about 10,900 people infected with the coronavirus who are self0isolating at home and 5,900 who are in institutionalized isolation.
