Situation of COVID-19 cases in Romania

Situation of COVID-19 cases in Romania

• 5 deaths caused by Coronavirus in Romania. 576 infections overall, 143 new cases
reported on Monday: The first deaths of those infected with novel Coronavirus have been
reported in the past 24 hours on Romania’s territory. Five people have died so far. They all
had serious pre-existing medical conditions. The Strategic Communication Group has
announced on Monday at 13:00hrs that there are a total of 576 cases of COVID-19
confirmed in Romania so far, with 143 new cases since Sunday. With over 500 persons
confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus countrywide Romania is COVID-19 Yellow
Zone as of Monday. Separately a dramatic situation was at the Suceava County Hospital,
where no less than 52 medical staff were confirmed with Covid-19and two persons
hospitalized in the last days have died. The hospital will be closed and all doctors from the
hospital will be put in isolation.
Political and regulatory
• President: Romania is facing the tragedy of the first deaths. Critical weeks are
ahead: President Klaus Iohannis has stated in a press statement on Monday that Romania
had entered the second week of emergency state due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that
our country is facing the tragedy of the first deaths due to the novel Coronavirus. He added
that critical weeks are ahead of us, which will put all the state capacities to a hard test.
Iohannis further said “it’s not time for political vendetta”. The head of state added that
there will be further economic measures to help the affected businesses. “All fiscal and
economic tools at hand, all resources will be put in the Romanians’ service, to help
companies that are going through dramatic moments now“, he argued. President Klaus
Iohannis called on pensioners on Monday to limit any movement outside their home,
except those which are strictly necessary.
• Minister of Public Finance, Florin Cîţu, announced that, following discussions with the
National Bank of Romania and with the banking system, the Government will present
within 48 hours a solution for the banks’ clients, without offering further details.
• Interior Minister Marcel Vela announced on Monday that all non-emergency
hospitalizations and surgeries are suspended for 14 days: More details here.
Impact on the economy
• Settlement of technical unemployment after two months, set to cause serious problems
to retail businesses:The settlement of the technical unemployment after more than two
months since it has to be paid by employers will lead to a serious survival problem for the majority of the non-food retail companies, Cosmin Savu Cristescu, executive secretary of
the Romanian Retailers’ Organization (RORETAIL) told on Monday private TV broadcaster
Digi 24.
• Plan of measures announced by Gov’t seems made to save banks, multinationals, not
SMEs or population (transporters): The plan of measures announced by the Government
seems to be made to save banks or multinationals, certainly not Romanian companies,
especially SMEs, or the population, the Confederation of Authorized Operators and
Transporters of Romania (COTAR) representatives said, in a release, sent, on Monday,
reminding that transports bring 10% of the GDP. COTAR also claims that fuel prices in
Romania did not drop accordingly to the international oil prices drop.
• Consumers Protection Authority conducted checks at large retail chains: The National
Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) has started an extensive campaign to verify the
way protection measures against the spread of COVID-19 are applied in the big retail
chains. On March 22, 2020, a team of inspectors with the Bucharest-Ilfov Regional
Commissioner for Consumer Protection (CRPC), conducted checks several commercial units
of big retailers in Bucharest (Metro, Selgros, Carrefour, Profi, Kaufland, Lidl and Mega
Image). The checks revealed that, at least so far, the stores have applied various measures
aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 and protecting their clients’ health. ANPC and
the Association of Large Commercial Networks in Romania (AMRCR) are collaborating to
exchange information on implementing protection measures and to come up with unitary
practices. ANPC will extend such checks at stores throughout the country.

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