COVID-19 pandemic in Romania

On 21 February, following a COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, the Romanian government announced a 14-day quarantine for citizens returning from the affected regions.[9]

On 22 February, the Romanian government announced several preventive measures including designation of five hospitals as isolation centres for new cases, purchase and placement of thermal scanners in international airports and specially designated lines for passengers coming from areas affected by COVID-19 outbreak.[10][11][12][9]

On 25 February, new measures were imposed. Upon arrival on the Romanian territory, all asymptomatic travelers from the affected areas, respectively Hubei, the 11 localities in Italy, and any remaining passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship will go directly to the quarantine, for a period for 14 days. The other people coming from the Lombardy and Veneto regions will enter voluntary isolation at home for 14 days, upon arrival in Romania.[13]

On 26 February, the Minister of Education and Research required schools to spread awareness about coronavirus.[14][15]

On 28 February, the Romanian Orthodox Church suggested that followers use their own spoons and avoid the traditional kissing of icons in church.[16]

On 2 March, more preventive measures were taken by the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations. Thus, citizens arriving from other provinces or cities in mainland China, other localities in Lombardy, Veneto or Emilia-Romagna regions of Italy, as well as areas and localities in South Korea and Iran not previously specified for institutionalised quarantine, enter 14 days of self-isolation at home immediately upon returning to Romania.[17]

On 8 March, the Head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, announced a ban on all indoor or outdoor activities involving the participation of more than 1,000 people (these numbers were subsequently changed, see below). These restrictions are valid until 31 March, when a new assessment would be made.[18] After Northern Italy was put under quarantine on March 8, low-cost airline Wizz Air suspended all flights to Treviso and Bergamo until 3 April. Likewise, Blue Air cancelled all flights to and from Milan for 8 and 9 March. In the same day, flights from and to Italy have been suspended.[19][20] In a press conference, Interior Minister Marcel Vela stated that if a school reports even a case, courses will be suspended throughout the school.[21]

On 9 March, officials announced the cessation of flights to and from Italy, at all airports in the country, until 23 March.[22] On the same day, the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations has decided to close all schools in Romania, from March 11 until 22, with the possibility of extending the measure. All bus rides and rail transport to and from Italy were suspended from 10 to 31 March.[23][24] The Committee also decided to establish a series of obligations for food units and for public and private providers of passenger transport, such as frequent disinfection of surfaces, avoiding crowds in commercial spaces, frequent disinfection of the passenger compartment in the means of transport, etc.[25]

On 11 March, the Government published a list of fifteen guidelines regarding the "responsible social behavior in preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)".[26] The authorities have imposed a ban on sports, scientific, religious, cultural or entertainment events with over 100 participants in closed spaces until March 31.[27] Likewise, the public activities for museums were suspended until March 31.[28]

Barrier on bus to separate drivers from passengers in an effort to protect them from potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus

On 12 March, Serbian authorities closed seven border points with Romania to prevent the spread of coronavirus.[29] On the same day, the Romanian Ombudsman asked President Klaus Iohannis to declare the state of emergency and the Romanian Parliament to approve it. In a televised statement, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, Nelu Tătaru, said that the current situation does not impose such an extreme measure.[30] The Romanian Football Federation decided to postpone all football matches in Romania until 31 March.[31] Interior Minister Marcel Vela announced that the border crossing points with low traffic have been closed so that employees there to be directed to high traffic posts.[32] Health Minister Victor Costache issued an order prohibiting the export of medicines and medical equipment for six months.[33]

On 13 March, Vergil Chițac, former admiral, who acts as an independent in the PNL senators' group, was diagnosed with COVID-19. He isolated himself after finding out that a French parliamentarian, with whom he had been traveling to Brussels, was found with coronavirus.[34] On March 9, Chițac attended a party meeting with over 100 people. Parliamentary sources claim that he was also present in the Senate on March 12, when he attended the group and plenary sessions.[34] In these conditions, all members of the National Political Bureau of PNL self-isolated at home. Interim Prime-minister Ludovic Orban announced that all PNL senators have an obligation to isolate themselves and that he will self-isolate at Vila Lac 1.[35] He also announced that all ministers will be tested for coronavirus and self-isolate.[36]

Number of cases (blue) and number of deaths (red) on a logarithmic scale.

An example of a self-certification form used in Romania's coronavirus lockdown

The Bucharest Mega Mall has temporarily closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19

On 14 March, after over 101 people had been diagnosed with coronavirus, Romania entered the third COVID-19 scenario.[37] The third scenario goes from 101 to 2,000 cases. In the third scenario the doctors will perform epidemiological screening in the tents installed in the hospitals' yards, and the hospitals of infectious diseases will treat only cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection.[38] Likewise, the authorities will be able to impose quarantine at home, not just in hospitals, as in many areas the capacities of medical units could be exceeded.[39] At the same time, according to the plan in the third scenario, public gatherings with more than 50 people are banned.[40] Three more liberals have been diagnosed with COVID-19, all contacts of senator Vergil Chițac.[41] Marcel Ciolacu, President of the Chamber of Deputies, announced that the Parliament will suspend its activity for a week. However, the activities will be carried out online.[42] The same day, President Klaus Iohannis announced his decision to decree the state of emergency in Romania starting March 16.[43]

On 16 March, Iohannis issued the decree establishing the state of emergency in Romania for a period of 30 days and insisted that the implementation of the measures included in the decree is being made gradually.[44] The schools will be closed during the state of emergency. If necessary, prices may be capped on medicines and medical equipment, on strictly necessary foods and on public utility services (electricity and heat, gas, water supply, sanitation, fuels, etc.). Also, gradual measures can be taken, if the situation gets worse, only after an evaluation of the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations. These include temporary closure of restaurants, hotels, cafes, clubs, gradual closure of borders, or limiting or prohibiting the movement of vehicles or people in/to certain areas.[45][46][47] On 19 March, the Parliament convened a joint online session and unanimously adopted the decree issued by Iohannis.[48]

Until 17 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitated the return to the country for 137 Romanians who were abroad, either as tourists, in transit, or in medical emergency situations and who were directly affected by the measures adopted by the states in which they were.[49] Later that same day, the government issued its first Military Ordinance, in response to the ongoing health crisis.[50] Four days later, on 21 March, a second Military Ordinance was issued: no groups larger than 3 people on the streets. Curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. All shopping centres were closed, except for the sale of food, veterinary or pharmaceutical products and cleaning services. It is forbidden for foreign citizens and stateless persons to enter Romanian territory, except through the specially organised transit corridor, further exceptions being made for other categories, such as residents, family members, and others.[51][52]

A nearly deserted Magheru Boulevard in Bucharest, 19 April.

On 22 March, the first three deaths were reported in Romania. All three had preexisting conditions: one was on dialysis, one had terminal lung cancer, and one had diabetes.[53][54] The next day, on 23 March, Suceava's main hospital, one of the largest in the country, reported at least seventy medical personnel infected with COVID-19, and 2 patients passing away.[55][56] Over the following days, their numbers would increase.[57][58][59][60][61] The hospital director was dismissed, shortly thereafter, for mismanagement.[60]

Following a surge in new confirmed cases, on 24 March, the government announced Military Ordinance No.3, instituting a national lockdown and calling in the military to support police and Gendarmerie personnel in enforcing the new restrictions. Movement outside the home or household is prohibited, with some exceptions (work, buying food or medicine etc.). People over 65 were allowed to leave their homes only between 11 a.m.-1 p.m.[62][63] Two days later, on March 26, the state airline Tarom suspended all internal flights.[64]

A fourth Military Ordinance has been issued on 29 March, further strengthening previously imposed fines and restrictions.[65] Two more would soon follow, issued close to the end of the next day; namely, a fifth, extending the ban on international travel,[66] and a sixth, placing Suceava, along with eight adjacent communes, under total quarantine,[67][68] the first Romanian city to be placed under complete lockdown since the start of the outbreak in late February, holding over a quarter of all infected cases,[68] and about two thirds of all infected medical personnel.[58][55][57][69] Some hospital staff have quit, others have signed a petition stating they "are sent to death barehanded".[70]

On 2 April, Harghita reported its first case, becoming the last county in Romania to report at least one case.[71]

On 4 April, a seventh Military Ordinance was issued, further extending the national lockdown period, and imposing a second local quarantine on the town of Țăndărei, Ialomița County.[72] On the same date, various counties and localities have started drafting local legislation requiring denizens to wear protection masks, whether professional or improvised.[73] The next day, Raed Arafat posted an article on his official Facebook page, later picked up by the national media and other news outlets, encouraging citizens to wear protective masks, even if homemade.[74] Prime minister Ludovic Orban, on the other hand, expressed doubts concerning not only the safety of homemade improvisations, but also about the necessary logistics for successfully implementing such a large scale operation, inasmuch as the demand would greatly outweigh the extant offer currently available on the market.[75]

On 7 April, a 53-year-old paramedic from Suceava became the first reported casualty among Romanian medical personnel.[76][77] As of 18 April, there were over a thousand infected medical staff in the country.[78][79]

On 9 April, an eighth Military Ordinance came into effect, reinforcing previously adopted measures, prohibiting the export of certain basic foods, banning the commerce of majority share packages in the National Energetic System, recommending that residential buildings be equipped with sanitary products and that their stairways and elevators be periodically disinfected, and making provisions for various professional categories, such as fishing, apiculture, car service and dealership, the food market, pharmaceuticals, cross-border workers, social services, medical staff etc.[80] A week later, on 16 April, a ninth Military Ordinance was issued.[81]

On 21 April, over 300 new cases, representing two thirds of the staff and patients of a local neuropsychiatric hospital, were reported in a village from Cornu Luncii commune in Suceava county, not belonging to those already placed under strict quarantine.[82] On the previous day, Pimen Zainea, the Romanian Orthodox archbishop of Suceava, was flown into the Matei Balș Institute for Infectious Diseases in Bucharest, after testing positive for CoVID-19,[83] where he would pass away a month later.[84][85] Saint John the New Monastery has been placed in lockdown,[86] and an epidemiological investigation was initiated.[87]

On 22 April, President Iohannis issued a press release, stating the government's intention to adopt, by mid-May, official legislation requiring citizens to wear surgical masks in public.[88] That same day, Timișoara, Romania's third largest city, made the use of both facial masks and protection gloves mandatory in enclosed public spaces, including transportation.[89] This decision came a week after Constanța, a major urban centre and one of the country's main tourist destinations, took similar measures on 15 April.[90]

On 27 April, the tenth Military Ordinance came into effect. Except for work and medical emergency, people over 65 were only allowed to leave their homes between 7 a.m.-11 a.m. and 7 p.m-10 p.m.[91] Two weeks later, on 11 May, an eleventh Military Ordinance lifted the Țăndărei quaratine.[92] Two days later, a further Military Ordinance lifted the Suceava quarantine.[93] On 14 May, a thirty-day state of alert was decreed, starting the following day,[94] thus ending the stricter state of emergency, in force until that date.

"Please keep your distance" notice in a Bucharest supermarket, 28 March 2020.

Flour almost sold out, Brașov, 14 March

During the second week of March, the Bucharest Stock Exchange recorded losses on all five trading sessions, the main index BET collapsing with 17.6%, the steepest decline since December 2018.[95]

On 16 March, the National Bank of Romania announced a reference rate of 4.8242 lei/euro, a historical maximum for the single European currency against the leu.[96] The leu continued its depreciation, reaching a maximum of 4.8448 lei/euro on 17 March.[97]

On 9 March, interim Prime-minister Ludovic Orban announced the closure of all schools between 11 and 22 March. The measure targeted all kindergartens, primary, secondary and high schools in Romania, both public and private, according to Education Minister Monica Anisie.[98] The decision affects 3.5 million students.[99] Likewise, several universities in the major student centres suspended their courses. These include the University of Bucharest, the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, the Politehnica University of Bucharest, the Babeș-Bolyai University, the West University of Timișoara, etc.[100][101][102] Furthermore, Anisie announced that, as a measure of prevention and control of the illnesses with COVID-19 in schools, the Ministry of Education had decided to suspend all county and regional school olympiads, as well as sports competitions.[103]

The show Teleșcoală (Teleschool), announced by the Ministry of Education and dedicated to the students who stay at home during the period when the schools are closed, started on TVR 2 on 16 March, at 9 a.m. Students can follow, from Monday to Friday, mathematics, Romanian, biology, history and geography classes.[104][105]

On 16 March, Anisie announced that schools would remain closed while the state of emergency was in place, at least until after the Easter holidays.[106][107] On 1 April, in response to a fake news story which had gained traction on social media and was being distributed on WhatsApp[108][109], saying that students would have to return to school in less than a week, Anisie and the Ministry of Education issued an official statement condemning the spread of false information and promised to provide in the next few days the date for the re-opening of schools, as well as the national examinations.[110][111][112]

On 6 April, Anisie announced the cancellation of national exam simulations, as well as of all school competitions and olympiads.[113] The ministry of education said that the Baccalaureate and the National Evaluation would most likely be held in July, all of the examinations excluding the second semester curriculum.[114][115][116]

The Romanian Football Federation and the Romanian Handball Federation decided to suspend all matches until 31 March.[117][118] The rugby match between Romania and Belgium, to be held in Botoșani on 14 March, was postponed by Rugby Europe.[31] The IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Bucharest, scheduled for 14-21 March, were cancelled.[119]

On 16 March, President Iohannis signed an emergency decree, giving authorities the power to remove, report or close websites spreading fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic, with no opportunity to appeal.[120][121]

The official values, as reported daily at 13:00 EEST.

No. of new confirmed cases per day

7-day average of new cases per day

No. of deaths per day

No. of new recoveries per day

No. of active cases in each day

Total number of tests

No. of new tested per day

7-day average of tests per day