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.[10]

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.[11][12][13][10]

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.[14]

On 26 February, the Minister of Education and Research required schools to spread awareness about coronavirus.[15][16]

On 28 February, the Romanian Orthodox Church suggested that followers use their own spoons and avoid the traditional kissing of icons in church.[17]

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.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20][21] In a press conference, Interior Minister Marcel Vela stated that if a school reports even a case, courses will be suspended throughout the school.[22]

On 9 March, officials announced the cessation of flights to and from Italy, at all airports in the country, until 23 March.[23] 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.[24][25] 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.[26]

On 11 March, the Government published a list of fifteen guidelines regarding the "responsible social behavior in preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)".[27] The authorities have imposed a ban on sports, scientific, religious, cultural or entertainment events with over 100 participants in closed spaces until March 31.[28] Likewise, the public activities for museums were suspended until March 31.[29]

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.[30] 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.[31] The Romanian Football Federation decided to postpone all football matches in Romania until 31 March.[32] 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.[33] Health Minister Victor Costache issued an order prohibiting the export of medicines and medical equipment for six months.[34]

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.[35] 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.[35] 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.[36] He also announced that all ministers will be tested for coronavirus and self-isolate.[37]

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.[38] 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.[39] 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.[40] At the same time, according to the plan in the third scenario, public gatherings with more than 50 people are banned.[41] Three more liberals have been diagnosed with COVID-19, all contacts of senator Vergil Chițac.[42] 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.[43] The same day, President Klaus Iohannis announced his decision to decree the state of emergency in Romania starting March 16.[44]

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.[45] 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.[46][47][48] On 19 March, the Parliament convened a joint online session and unanimously adopted the decree issued by Iohannis.[49]

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.[50] Later that same day, the government issued its first Military Ordinance, in response to the ongoing health crisis.[51] 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.[52][53]

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.[54][55] 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.[56][57] Over the following days, their numbers would increase.[58][59][60][61][62] The hospital director was dismissed, shortly thereafter, for mismanagement.[61]

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.[63][64] Two days later, on March 26, the state airline TAROM suspended all internal flights.[65]

A fourth Military Ordinance has been issued on 29 March, further strengthening previously imposed fines and restrictions.[66] Two more would soon follow, issued close to the end of the next day; namely, a fifth, extending the ban on international travel,[67] and a sixth, placing Suceava, along with eight adjacent communes, under total quarantine,[68][69] 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,[69] and about two thirds of all infected medical personnel.[59][56][58][70] Some hospital staff have quit, others have signed a petition stating they "are sent to death barehanded".[71]

On 2 April, Harghita reported its first case, becoming the last county in Romania to report at least one case.[72]

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.[73] On the same date, various counties and localities have started drafting local legislation requiring denizens to wear protection masks, whether professional or improvised.[74] 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.[75] 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.[76]

On 7 April, a 53-year-old paramedic from Suceava became the first reported casualty among Romanian medical personnel.[77][78] As of 18 April, there were over a thousand infected medical staff in the country.[79][80]

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.[81] A week later, on 16 April, a ninth Military Ordinance was issued.[82]

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.[83] 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,[84] where he would pass away a month later.[85][86] Saint John the New Monastery has been placed in lockdown,[87] and an epidemiological investigation was initiated.[88]

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.[89] 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.[90] 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.[91]

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.[92] Two weeks later, on 11 May, an eleventh Military Ordinance lifted the Țăndărei quarantine.[93] Two days later, a further Military Ordinance lifted the Suceava quarantine.[94] On 14 May, a thirty-day state of alert was decreed, starting the following day,[95] thus ending the stricter state of emergency, in force until that date.

The state of emergency ended on May 14 and was replaced by the state of alert, starting with May 15, when the hairdressing salons, barbershops, dental offices and museums were reopened.[96] Leaving the city of residence, possible only with a statement and reason and those who return to the country are isolated at home. The malls with an area under 15,000 sq m are reopened.

The modular hospital built from the donations of 250,000 Romanians.

250 thousand Romanians donated for the construction of the most modern modular coronavirus hospital. The hospital was ready in two weeks.[97]

Archbishop Theodosius of Thomis shared several children using the same teaspoon and the same chalice, defying the rules imposed by the authorities and the Holy Synod.[98]

New sanctions from 1 July: suspension of the operating license for organizers of activities and events that do not comply with anti-COVID rules.[99]

Images with dozens of people singing and dancing, in Vama Veche, without taking into account the distance rules imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have appeared on social networks. The administrator of a club, fined 2,000 lei.[100]

Two PSD deputies - Adrian Solomon and Irinel Stativa - refused to wear a mask in a fast food restaurant in sector 3 and quarreled with the police were fined and for not wearing a protective mask, according to the law on alert status . The announcement was made by the Capital Police, which states that in the meantime the images captured by the video cameras in the place were viewed. Parliamentarians were initially fined for causing a scandal.[101]

The state of alert in Romania extended by 30 days, President Klaus Iohannis announced. He said no new restrictions would be imposed, but there would be no new easing measures.[102]

The new restrictions that came into force on August 1: The protective mask will be mandatory in open spaces, at certain time intervals, which will be set by the county authorities, and the premises with terrace will be open only until 23.00. Specifically, "the sale and consumption of food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in specially designated areas between 23.00 and 06.00 will be prohibited." The gambling halls will also be closed at the same time.[103]

The National Committee for Emergency Situations has adopted Decision number 43 which provides for the reopening starting with September 1, 2020 of restaurants and cafes inside buildings, including in the case of accommodation units, the limitation at national level of the operation of terraces between 06.00- 24.00 and increasing the number of people who can participate in private events to 50 in an enclosed space, respectively 100 in an open space. However, the clubs and discos inside will remain closed.[104]

The Ministry of Health has published the epidemiological analysis by counties and localities which shows the incidence rate of coronavirus infections per thousand inhabitants, essential data for the beginning of the new school year. The epidemiological criterion based on which the educational units / institutions establish one of the 3 scenarios is the cumulative incidence rate, respectively the total number of new cases in the last 14 days compared to 1000 inhabitants: Scenario 1 - green - school starts with the physical presence of all students - Incidence rate less than 1 per thousand inhabitants; Scenario 2 - yellow - hybrid scenario - Only students in grades VIII and XII will participate physically daily in classes, while the rest of the students will return partially (by rotation every 1-2 weeks). Incidence rate between 1 and 3 per thousand inhabitants; Scenario 3 - red - Online school only - Incidence rate higher than 3 per thousand inhabitants.[105]

"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 by 17.6%, the steepest decline since December 2018.[139]

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.[140] The leu continued its depreciation, reaching a maximum of 4.875 lei/euro on 25 September.[141]

Romania's economy contracted by 4.7% in H1 of 2020, driven by a decline of 10.5% in Q2.[142] On the demand side, exports of goods and services fell by 15.1% in H1 of 2020, as European trading partners were significantly affected by the crisis.[142] Imports contracted less than exports (down 9.4%), leading to a 21% increase in the trade deficit in H1.[142] The weakening of external demand from Europe alongside pandemic-related restrictions caused industry to contract by 14.1% in H1.[142] The sharp decline in output led to deteriorating labor market conditions, with deeper effects noted for younger workers and women: job vacancies fell between Q1 and Q2 2020,[142] while the unemployment rate increased to 5.4% in July from 4.1% in February.[143] Job and household income losses were stemmed by the technical unemployment relief program, which covered 1.3 million beneficiaries during the state of emergency at a cost of approximately 370 million euros (0.2% of GDP).[144]

According to the autumn economic forecasts published on 5 November by the European Commission, Romania's economy will record a contraction of 5.2% in 2020, less severe than initially estimated, thanks to investments and construction works. Also, Romania's budget deficit is expected to increase significantly, up to 10.3% of GDP, in the context in which the fiscal effort needed to combat the crisis is added to the past fiscal slippages. Consequently, Romania's debt-to-GDP ratio is forecast to increase from 35.3% in 2019 to 46.7% in 2020.[145]

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.[146] The decision affected 3.5 million students.[147] 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.[148][149][150] 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.[151] On 10 March, the Ministry of Education has made a public call on primary and secondary school teachers to contribute with open educational resources, which can be accessed on the CRED project page and to conduct video lessons with the technical support of Romanian Television.[152]

The show Teleșcoală (Teleschool), announced by the Ministry of Education and dedicated to the students who stayed at home during the period when schools were closed, started on TVR 2 on 16 March. The program was divided into two sections, between 9 and 10 a.m. courses for the 8th grade and between 3 and 4 p.m. courses for the 12th grade; the courses could be watched both on TV and on TVR's YouTube channel.[153] Students were able to follow, from Monday to Friday, mathematics, Romanian, biology, history and geography classes.[154][155] In the first week of broadcasting, the program was watched by 1.3 million people, being the most watched TVR content between 16 and 21 March.[156]

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.[157][158] On 1 April, in response to a fake news story which had gained traction on social media and was being distributed on WhatsApp,[159][160] 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 reopening of schools, as well as the national examinations.[161][162][163]

On 6 April, Anisie announced the cancellation of national exam simulations, as well as of all school competitions and olympiads.[164] The Minister 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.[165][166][167]

In May, four months before the start of the new school year, the Government announced the purchase of 250,000 tablets to facilitate distance learning activities. For these tablets, the Government has allocated 150 million lei from the reserve fund, both for devices and internet services.[168] Previously, Anisie stated that approximately 250,000 students do not have access to technology and thus cannot attend online courses.[169] Of the 250,000 tablets, around 82,000 were purchased through the National Office for Centralized Acquisitions.[170] As of November, just over 43,000 were distributed to students.[171]

A study conducted by World Vision Romania between 10 May and 27 June showed that approximately 40% of students in rural areas did not participate in online courses and only 64% of teachers organized such courses. Moreover, according to the same study, 1 in 4 rural schools does not have an internet connection, and 9 out of 10 do not have laptops, PCs or tablets for digital education.[172]

In a government meeting on 5 November, President Klaus Iohannis announced a series of partial quarantine measures, including the closure of all schools nationwide and the transition to online education for the next 30 days.[173] During this period, only nurseries and after-schools remained open.[174] The president's announcement, later doubled by a government decision, sparked a wave of discontent. The National Council of Students announced in a statement that it disapproves of the measure, as many schools are located in communities where the transmission rate is less than 3 per thousand inhabitants and hundreds of thousands of students in Romania do not have the opportunity to access online courses due to lack of digital infrastructure.[173] According to a survey by the National Federation of Parents' Associations, about 47.2% of parents consider that the closure of schools is not a good one for the education system, and 45.2% of them consider this decision as a necessary one.[175]

On 7 November, Anisie announced that students will no longer take their theses in the 2020–2021 school year, which will be replaced by a summative evaluation.[176]

The Romanian Football Federation and the Romanian Handball Federation decided to suspend all matches until 31 March.[177][178] The rugby match between Romania and Belgium, to be held in Botoșani on 14 March, was postponed by Rugby Europe.[32] The IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Bucharest, scheduled for 14–21 March, were cancelled.[179]

The Romanian tourism industry has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures that have been taken in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. Both hotels and travel agencies have seen massive decreases in bookings and cancellations of events. Since the beginning of March, the occupancy rate of hotels has decreased by 40% in Bucharest and by 50% in resorts.[180] In the first nine months of the year, arrivals in tourist reception facilities decreased by 50.6%, overnight stays by 49.5%, and arrivals of foreign visitors decreased by 59%.[181]

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Arrivals	5%	4.5%	69.8%	98.1%	96.9%	74.5%	44.4%	30.4%	39.5%	54.4%
Overnight stays	7%	6.1%	68.2%	97.4%	97%	76.4%	44.7%	31.8%	36.9%	54.8%
Foreign visitors	12.7%	9.6%	50.1%	83.3%	81.5%	68.7%	69%	71.2%	66.2%	65.4%
Source: National Institute of Statistics

Teleworking has been a necessary practice for many firms and workers during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 crisis. Due to the nature of the activity, only 7% of jobs in hospitality industry can plausibly be performed at home.[182] As of 28 April, the Ministry of Labor reported 114,494 individual employment contracts suspended in the hotels and restaurants sector.[183]

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.[184][185]

As of 6 December 2020, the average age of cases is 48.[186] The average age of deaths is significantly higher than the average age of cases, i.e. 70.[186]