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Minister Tataru: we don’t take into account a lockdown, but restrictions at local level, where they are necessary
The minister of health, Nelu Tataru stated on Sunday in Iasi that the authorities do not take into account a lockdown in Romania, but the implementation of restrictions at local level, where the epidemiological situation requires it.
Asked if the authorities take into consideration the scenario of a lockdown, applied already in many European states, minister Nelu Tataru stated the this variant is not necessary.
‘We don’t take into consideration a lockdown,but we consider the observation of rules and the implementation of restrictions at local level where it is necessary, as soon as possible’ said the minister of health, Nelu Tataru.As regards school, Tataru stated that he recommends ‘ the type of school face to face as much as possible’.
The minister of health added that the level of spreading of the virus differs from one locality to another and from one county to another, and for this reason the local committees for emergency situations are those who take the decision in case of school interruption.
‘The local committees analyse and depending on the evolution may remain on a mixed scenario and hybrid or they get to the third scenario ( all students participate in all activities)’ said minister Nelu Tataru.
The minister of health Nelu Tataru met on Sunday, for one hour, the heads of Covid hospitals in Iasi, the meeting taking place at the headquarters of the county prefecture.
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban also said on Sunday that Romania is not in the situation of other European countries that have imposed restrictions due to the dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases, yet underlining that authorities “are assessing possible measures.”
“The National Emergencies Committee (CNSU) usually convenes on Monday for the weekly update of the situation with the countries and for, possibly, the adoption of other measures that are necessary. We are assessing possible measures. If we take any additional decision, we will make it public (…) For now, I have told you, we are analyzing the effects of the measures we have already taken to extend the state of alert,” Orban said, while attending the event inaugurating a call center of Bucharest Public Health Directorate at National Arena in Bucharest, together with the Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan and Bucharest prefect, Traian Berbeceanu.
The prime minister stressed though that Romania is not in the situation of other countries in terms of number of infections. “The measures taken by different European countries have been taken following a dramatic increase in the number of cases. Romania, for example, is not in the situation of other countries in terms of the number of infections and especially in terms of rate of increase in the number of daily infections. We have forecast such measures. Look at the measures taken by Germany: closing restaurants, theaters. We have closed such activities everywhere where the rate of three per thousand has been exceeded. We have banned from the extension of the state of emergency private events such as weddings, christenings, festive meals and other activities that gather a lot of people in a place and where the rules of sanitary protection are not observed.We have taken such measures, but the measures are conditioned by the exceeding of a certain index of virus spreading within the community (…) So we have such measures in place. Of course many are presented as … lockdown – now the term is fashionable. It is not! Lockdown is, for example, what Israel did, which closed all unnecessary activities and introduced traffic restrictions. And in terms of traffic restrictions, traffic restrictions were introduced in three countries, but at night they were introduced after 22:00 and, obviously, where there was indeed a very large increase in the number of cases,” the prime minister explained.As for Bucharest, the PM mentioned that the restrictions adopted two weeks ago will be also evaluated.
In his turn, the new mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan said that no general lockdown is envisaged in the Capital city, but one street or two can be quarantined at the most. He also ruled out the possibility of placing an entire district under quarantine.
He said that the local authorities, the local Police or the Gendarmerie are assessing now the hypothesis of quarantining a street or more where the incidence of infections is very high. “There is a expertize within these authorities on how movement can be restricted on a street and allow only the people with special needs”, Nicusor Dan said.