COVID-19 pandemic in Romania

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COVID-19 pandemic in Romania

Cases per 100,000 residents by county

Cases in Romania by county

Disease COVID-19
Virus strain SARS-CoV-2
Location Romania
Index case Prigoria, Gorj
26 February 2020 (6 months and
Arrival date
4 days)
Confirmed cases 85,833[1]
Active cases 44,906
Severe cases 490
Recovered 37,388
Deaths 3,539
Territories 41 counties and Bucharest
Government website
www.stirioficiale.ro/informatii
The COVID-19 pandemic in Romania is part of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The
virus was confirmed to have reached Romania on 26 February 2020, when the first case in Gorj
County was confirmed.[2]

As of 1 August, the Government of Romania reports 4,342 people institutionalized, a further 20,852
at home under medical supervision, of which 4,742 have tested positive, and over one million tests
having been processed.[3]

Contents
 1 Background
 2 Timeline
o 2.1 21 February−2 March: First cases and early preventive measures
o 2.2 8−13 March: Ban on public gatherings, school and border closures
o 2.3 14−21 March: State of emergency
o 2.4 22 March−2 April: First deaths, national lockdown, Suceava quarantine
o 2.5 4 April−14 May: Face masks, Easter Week
o 2.6 15 May−present: State of alert and relaxation measures
 3 Impact
o 3.1 Economics
o 3.2 Education
o 3.3 Sport
o 3.4 Censorship
 4 Cases
 5 Statistics
o 5.1 Graphs
o 5.2 Cases by region
 6 See also
 7 References
 8 External links

Background
On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the
cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who had
initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019.[4][5]

Unlike SARS of 2003, the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower,[6][7] but the
transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[8][6]

Timeline
 COVID-19 cases in Romania  (

 v
 t
 e

)
     Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Last 15 days

Date # of cases # of deaths

2020-08-16 70,461(+1.6%) 2,991(+1.3%)

2020-08-17 71,194(+1%) 3,029(+1.3%)

2020-08-18 72,208(+1.4%) 3,074(+1.5%)

2020-08-19 73,617(+2%) 3,106(+1%)

2020-08-20 74,963(+1.8%) 3,154(+1.5%)

2020-08-21 76,355(+1.9%) 3,196(+1.3%)

2020-08-22 77,544(+1.6%) 3,233(+1.2%)

2020-08-23 78,505(+1.2%) 3,272(+1.2%)

2020-08-24 79,330(+1.1%) 3,309(+1.1%)

2020-08-25 80,390(+1.3%) 3,367(+1.8%)

2020-08-26 81,646(+1.6%) 3,421(+1.6%)

2020-08-27 83,150(+1.8%) 3,459(+1.1%)

 2020-08-28 84,468(+1.6%) 3,507(+1.4%)

2020-08-29 85,833(+1.6%) 3,539(+0.91%)

2020-08-30 86,785(+1.1%) 3,578(+1.1%)

Data communicated by authorities everyday at 1 p.m EEST

Sources:

 Ministry of Health's press releases

 Various news outlets after the Ministry of Health went into isolation on March 31

21 February−2 March: First cases and early preventive measures

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]
8−13 March: Ban on public gatherings, school and border closures

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 [ro], 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]

14−21 March: State of emergency

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]

22 March−2 April: First deaths, national lockdown, Suceava quarantine

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. and 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]

4 April−14 May: Face masks, Easter Week

Play media
Police announcement during the Military Ordinance (Translation: Stay at home! Obey the Military
Ordinance! Observe the rules and curfew schedules!)
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. and 11 a.m. and
between 7 p.m and 10 p.m.[91] Two weeks later, on 11 May, an eleventh Military Ordinance lifted the
Țăndărei quarantine.[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.

15 May−present: State of alert and relaxation measures

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2020)
Impact
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2020)

Economics

"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]

Education

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]

Sport

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]

Censorship

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]

Cases
On 14 March, 18 days after the diagnosis of the first case of infection with SARS-CoV-2, Romania
surpassed the threshold of 100 confirmed cases. 49% of those diagnosed were outside the country
prior to diagnosis.[122] In 35% of cases, patients were previously in Italy, the country most affected
by the pandemic in the European Union. These people were the main sources of transmission of the
virus to the other 50%, in a single situation being unable to identify a suggestive epidemiological
context for the diagnosed patient.[122] Two diagnosed people (cases #17 and #27) were responsible
for infecting 22% of the number of patients.[122] This situation was possible because each of them hid
from authorities, in the initial phase, the fact that they had previously travelled to an area at risk of
infection, which delayed the initiation of the epidemiological investigation and exposed more people
to the risk of infection. More than half of the cases (54%) were diagnosed in three counties:
Bucharest, Timiș and Hunedoara.[122] A patient out of three was diagnosed in Bucharest. Only six of
the first 100 infected Romanian patients were older than 70, the age at which coronavirus often
poses serious health problems, especially when the infected one also suffers from associated
diseases.[122] Of the first 100 patients, only one case was serious, requiring ICU admission, while
nine patients recovered, and 90 had mild to moderate symptoms.[122]
On 15 March, the Ministry of Health stopped publishing data on sex, age, origin, contacts and other
details of individual cases. The information about the new cases were communicated in two
newsletters per day, one at 10 a.m., the other at 6 p.m.[123] From 19 March onward, the reporting of
the new confirmed cases was done only once a day, at 1 p.m.[124]

On 24 March, prime minister Ludovic Orban stated the Government's goal to eventually increase the
testing capacity to well over 2500 people a day,[125] which seems to have been achieved by early
April.[126]