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PM Orban asks MPs to decide on state of alert extension based on objective analyses, not political interests
Prime minister Ludovic Orban on Wednesday said in Braila (northeast of Bucharest) that he is asking the MPs to decide on the extension of the state of alert based on objective analyses, and not on momentarily political interests, stressing that this is not a topic to be politicised.
"It's not a topic that should be politicized. I have avoided politicising it and I call on those in Parliament to decide on the basis of objective criteria and analyses, not on the basis of political or electoral interests of the moment. (...) It's not our political fad to prolong the alert. Politically, I can tell you it's not an advantage. On the other hand, we are rational people, we are people who take into account the public interest and, in order to ensure the health and life of Romanians, it is fundamental to maintain the state of alert. We will use all the constitutional and legal levers we have to preserve the health of Romanians, no matter what some parties in Parliament do," Orban said.
The Prime minister made it clear that "putting an end to the state of alert means, in fact, endangering the health of Romanian citizens", because, without having the necessary levers to comply with the law, "basically, we will no longer be able to brake the spread of the virus in the community".
"Furthermore, we will have no leverage to intervene in outbreaks, where non-compliance with the rules leads to a greater number of people getting ill. In certain companies, elders' homes, villages or neighborhoods it will be impossible to be able to order quarantine or protection measures. Total relaxation at the moment will lead to an increase in the number of infected people. We can't estimate what this increase will be. Any increase in the number of infections raises the number of people at risk of death. We also endanger people's lives if we give up the measures that are related to the state of alert. Any kind of increase in the number of people who are at risk of infection or will actually become infected can lead to other measures of restriction, it can lead to disturbances of other activities, which we gradually, with some protective measures, are relaxing," Orban stressed.
Ludovic Orban added that "there is still a spread of the virus in the community" and that "interactions among people have increased exponentially as a result of relaxation measures".
Head of the Emergency Situations Department (DSU) dr. Raed Arafat said on Tuesday evening that preparations are being made at the level of the European Civil Protection for a possible second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but no one can estimate whether it will be bigger or smaller than it is today.
"The European Civil Protection, which we met by videoconference today - says we are clearly preparing for a second wave. Whether it will be stronger than this or weaker than this, no one can say at the moment (...) Whoever expects us to come and say 'stay calm, there will be no problem' means that they expect a totally unprofessional statement. Those assailing us for saying a second wave will come do not understand what we are facing, but they should understand that we, the people managing emergencies, public health, cannot say 'stay calm, there will be nothing.' We now have an obligation, moreover, to prepare, to prepare our stockpiles so that you will not ask us in September or October, why we are not ready. Because that's exactly what needs to be done, what we did not do in years now is the time to do it. Because Romania is involved with the European stockpiles, we are working in that direction (...) In Romania, our stockpiles are starting to fill up. We need to see strategic stockpiles reach a level where, if we get into a situation we entered about three months ago, we will be much better prepared," Arafat told Antena 3 private broadcaster.
He said that full relaxation is not advisable, and that if the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic occurs, certain measures will have to be taken and adapted.
"I believe that continuity on a more settled form is more advisable than having no form to work on. It must be a form at least for the period we still have measures. When we decide that we have entered the no measures phase, have no measures, we have eased up, then it can disappear and come back maybe if we see that we start to grow again or if the second wave appears. Because if a second wave occurs, it is clear that certain measures will have to be taken and adapted. Perhaps, if we are better prepared, we must not take such harsh measures as we have taken; we will see, but a form of alertness, in order to move on, will have to be in place. We will see its content, things that can be taken out, like I said direct procurement that can be taken out and not needed at this stage; it can be discussed at a political level to reach an agreement," said Arafat.