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Iohannis: Situation is serious. We transmit to Romanians living abroad not to come home this year for Easter
President Klaus Iohannis told prefects and head of public institutions on Thursday that they had to understand that “the situation is not just complicated, but serious.” If we all do our duty very well, we have the chance to overcome this very complicated period,” said the head of state who also told people from hospitals: “brace yourselves”.
President Iohannis said on Thursday, at the video conference with the premier, interior minister, prefects and heads of public institutions that we are in a very complicated situation.
“I am, therefore asking you, ladies and gentlemen, to be very active! Do everything necessary and what you are told by central authorities. You should understand that the situation is not just complicated, it is serious. It depends on us all how we will go through this period. If we all do our part well we have the chance to go through this very complicated period relatively well,” Iohannis said.
He added that “the whole world is in a serious situation,”and pointed out that “the rapid extension of the disease must be prevented at any cost”.
“We do not want to reach a deep crisis situation. It must be prevented. We must prevent the spreading of this disease. We must slow down the spreading of this disease. Here, physicians, medical staff have a very important role. I thank them for their work and now I encourage them to continue doing their job very well. But it dep3nds on the authorities too. Central authorities are prepared, and I am sure that after this meeting, local, county authorities and ourselves, each of us, every Romanian must play his role in these measures we took by setting up the state of emergency,” Iohannis said.
He asked the prefects and the heads of the decentralized public institutions to transmit to Romanians living abroad not to come home this year for holidays, because, in the context of the norms established by experts, when returning to the country they must go into quarantine or isolation.
"I want to say a word about Romanians outside the borders, about Romanians from the diaspora. The Easter holidays are approaching. We must tell them with sadness, but also with sincerity, not to come home this year for holidays. In Europe, practically, one can no longer travel. It is very, very complicated. When they still come to the country, according to the regulations in force established by the experts, they have to go directly into isolation or quarantine, on a case-by-case basis. And then, what would be the point of their coming: to enter quarantine or isolation for at least two weeks? So transmit to them on all channels: Romanians outside our borders are dear to us. We want to see them, we would like to be together, but this year, for these holidays, it cannot be. It is sad, but we have to be honest in order not to create expectations that are not fulfilled," said Iohannis at the videoconference with Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, Interior Minister Marcel Vela, prefects and heads of decentralized public institutions on the issue of the COVID-19 epidemic management.
According to him, the adoption by Parliament of the decree regarding the institution of the state of emergency on the entire territory of Romania for a period of 30 days proves the "responsibility and solidarity of the entire political class."
"The adoption in unanimity by the Romanian Parliament of the decree I issued regarding the institution of the state of emergency on the entire territory of Romania for a period of 30 days proves the responsibility and solidarity of the entire political class, which understands the gravity of the situation in which our country is. I appreciate particularly the celerity with which the decree was adopted, as well as the unity proven by the Romanian MPs. Only together can we surpass this crisis provoked by the COVID-19 epidemic. We all must submit efforts so that the measures taken by the authorities have results in stopping the spread of the infection with the novel coronavirus," said Iohannis in a press statement released by the Presidential Administration.