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Romanians coming from Italy's Veneto and Lombardy regions to be automatically quarantined for coronavirus
Until the public health authorities instruct additional measures, the passengers who arrive at the Bucharest 'Henri Coanda' airport from the Italian areas affected by the coronavirus (Milan, Bergamo, Treviso, Turin) shall enter the country on the lane intended for charter flights and shall fill out a short questionnaire with identification data and other relevant information, said spokesman of the National Company Bucharest Airports (CNAB) Valentin Iordache, who also mentioned that these travelers will get medical assistance from the medical staff of the Emergencies Department.
Manager of the "Matei Bals" Infectious Diseases Institute, Adrian Streinu Cercel, said on Sunday that the people who arrive in Romania from Italy's regions of Veneto and Lombardy (Lodi) where coronavirus outbreaks have been registered, or those who have traveled to these localities will be automatically quarantined, and if they fail to comply with the rules they are liable to punishment.
There are no reports by the Italian authorities about any cases of coronavirus symptomatic Romanian citizens, said the Health Ministry, which however cautioned that Romania could be more exposed to COVID-19 infections because of the Romanian citizens' dynamics on flights between Italy and China.
Representatives of the Inter-sectoral Committee on the Prevention and Containment of New Coronavirus (COVID-19) Illnesses, together with the representatives of the authorities with responsibilities in this field held a teleconference on Saturday, having in view the development of illness cases in Italy, in areas with strong Romanian communities.
According to a Health Ministry release, the public health authorities will include the persons arriving in Romania from the regions of Veneto and Lombardy (Lodi) or who have traveled thereto in the last 14 days in the category who must observe a 14-day quarantine after entering the country.
"The Health Ministry will transmit the new measures to the health units and family doctors, via the county public health departments and the Bucharest public health department," says the cited source.
According to the Health Ministry, measures to control and prevent coronavirus infections will be beefed up at the land, sea/river and air border checkpoints.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy soared to more than 100 on Sunday, and the authorities expect the illness to spread despite efforts to keep the transmission under control, DPA informs.
Italy is battling Europe's worst outbreak of the Covid-19 virus; according to the World Health Organization, Germany has 16 cases, France - 12 (with one death) and the UK - three.