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IntMin Vela: Entrance to Romania of foreign citizens and stateless, forbidden
* Military Order no. 1 of March 17 and Military Order no. 2 of March 21, which established successive measures regarding the limiting the freedom of movement and meeting of citizens
Interior Minister Marcel Vela presented the measures mentioned in the document during a press meeting on Saturday evening. According to him, the entrance on Romania's territory, through the state border crossing points, of foreign citizens and stateless persons, except for the situation in which they transit Romania's territory, on transit corridors, organised through agreements with the foreign states, will be forbidden.
Vela said that, by exception, it is allowed the entrance on Romania's territory of foreign citizens and stateless persons from several categories: family members of Romanian citizens; family members of citizens of other member states of the European Union or of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation, residing in Romania; persons who hold a long-stay visa, a residence permit or a document equivalent to the residence permit issued by the Romanian authorities according to the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 194/2002 regarding the regime of foreigners in Romania, republished, with the subsequent amendments and additions, or a document equivalent to them issued by the authorities of other states, according to the law of the European Union; persons moving in professional interest, evidenced by a visa, residence permit or other equivalent document.
Also, the following categories are allowed to enter Romania's territory: diplomatic or consular personnel, personnel of international organizations, military personnel or personnel who can provide humanitarian aid; passengers in transit, including those repatriated as a result of granting consular protection; passengers traveling for imperative reasons (medical or family-related); people in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons.
Interior Minister Marcel Vela added that the retail trade in products and services are suspended in the commercial centres where several economic operators conduct their activity, except for the sale of food, veterinary or pharmaceutical products and dry cleaner's services.
Services can be held in the churches by the priests but without public access, Vela said.
Regarding the circulation of persons outside their homes, minister Vela said that it will only be done with the observance of the general measures for preventing the COVID-19 spread and the avoidance of creating any group persons.
"The circulation of persons outside their homes/households will only be done with the observance of the general measures for preventing the COVID-19 spread and the avoidance of creating any group persons. By creating a group of persons it is to be understood a gathering of more than three persons, persons who don't live together," said Vela, who presented a military ordinance including several provisions.
He added that between 22 and 6 the circulation of persons outside their homes will only be allowed for a few reasons, among which for professional reasons, for ensuring goods representing the basic needs of persons and pets, as well as for ensuring goods for the conduct of the professional activity, and for medical assistance that cannot be postponed or done remotely.
According to the military ordinance presented by the minister, the measure is to be enforced starting Sunday, 22 March, at 22,00hrs.
Holy Mass and other services will be officiated in churches, without public participation
The Holy Mass and the other liturgical services will be officiated in churches, in all parishes, by the parishioner priests of that church, without the participation of the public, the ceremonies to be broadcast online and in the local or national media, the Chancellery of the Holy Synod said, in a release of the Press Bureau of the Romanian Patriarchy, sent on Sunday.
The new measures regarding services and churchly social activities sent by the Chancellery of Holy Synod were taken on the basis of Military Order no. 1 of March 17 and Military Order no. 2 of March 21, which established successive measures regarding the limiting the freedom of movement and meeting of citizens, which also affect the public religious life of worshipers, following consultations on Sunday with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The services can be broadcast online and in the local and national media.
All Romanian Orthodox worshippers in the country and abroad can follow the Holy Mass and the other liturgical services officiated in the Patriarchal Cathedral on TV station Trinitas TV, radio station Trinitas of the Romanian Patriarchy or through the stations that will rebroadcast the transmission.
Although the Holy Mass and the other liturgical services are performed in the church without the participation of the public (laymen), the churches will however be open for special situations, such as the Rite of Baptism and the Rite of Marriage, which can be performed in the churches and which will have a maximum of eight persons in attendance.