Romania’s government may not immediately ease restrictions that were put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a slight spike in new cases in recent days.
Health Minister Nelu Tataru said a state of alert that was decreed in the country in mid-May might not be lifted after it expires next week.
He said the National Committee for Emergency Situations would review the situation on Thursday and make a decision.
Romania recorded far fewer than 200 cases for almost three weeks until four days ago, when the number of new infections began to creep up.
On Thursday, there were 238 fresh cases, double the number of two days previously.
Authorities are waiting to see how many cases are reported at the beginning of this week. Romania has reported 20,476 cases and 1,326 deaths since the pandemic began.
“Developments in the coming days will decide…. whether we extend the state of alert,” Tataru told B1 TV on Sunday evening.
Romania imposed a state of emergency in mid-March to limit the spread of the virus and began to lift restrictions on May 15. Large gatherings, indoor concerts, international train travel and regular church services are still banned.
Restaurants with outdoor terraces have been allowed to reopen and malls are expected to reopen next week.
Tataru said if Romania lifts most restrictions “there will be a relaxation (of rules) although it’s hard for me to think that will happen.”
He said there was reluctance to lift the state of alert, due to fresh outbreaks and new cases.
He said the virus “wouldn’t disappear overnight” and new cases would appear during the summer.
He said that even when measures were relaxed, there would be “norms to prevent the spread of the virus” predicting life would get back to “quasi normal” at the end of July, beginning of August.
