Radio România Internațional

Tag: travel restrictions

  • Restrictions for Romanians

    Restrictions for Romanians

    The
    Government in Bucharest might impose new restrictions to limit the spread of
    the corona pandemic, considering the epidemiological context at home has taken
    a turn for the worse, Raed Arafat, the head of the Department for Emergency
    Situations, has explained. The Romanian official told a TV station that
    restrictions might be introduced only in certain areas, although a discussion
    on this matter hasn’t been raised yet. The statement comes against the backdrop
    of a resurge in the number of corona infections in Romania. Authorities say the
    main reason behind the latest increase is the fact that people don’t observe
    health safety regulations overall, and particularly in holiday resorts on the
    Black Seacoast, in the mountains, but also in open-air restaurants in downtown
    Bucharest.


    I doubt
    that, right now, we can stop people from going to the seacoast. We can
    introduce restrictions, maybe not at national level, we have to monitor the
    evolution of the pandemic. We might end up introducing regional restrictions.
    I’m just going to say this: we have to be aware that, if the situation
    continues to get worse and infections in some areas are in higher numbers than
    in others, there is a possibility these areas might be isolated.


    Raed Arafat
    pointed out high numbers of infections are reported daily in Bucharest, Arges,
    Prahova, Dambovita and Brasov counties. The situation isn’t great in Galati County
    either, where 200 cases were reported last week alone. Dozens of medical and
    auxiliary staff at the Sfântul Apostol Andrei County hospital have tested
    positive for SARS CoV2. As a result of the resurge of the pandemic in Romania,
    several European states are introducing travel restrictions for Romanians. The
    latest in this series is Lithuania, who has denied all access to Romanians. In
    turn, Lithuanian citizens returning home from Romania will be placed in
    isolation for 14 days upon arrival. To get to Greece, Romanian tourists must
    provide a negative test against COVID-19, no older than 72 hours. A similar
    measure was introduced in Austria. Other European states are imposing
    quarantine and isolation for arrivals from Romania as a basic rule. Finland,
    Slovakia and Malta are such countries. Romanians have to observe similar
    restrictions when travelling to Estonia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and
    Hungary. Updated information on travel conditions in the context of the
    COVID-19 pandemic is available on the website of the Romanian Foreign Ministry.
    The said restrictions are not targeting just Romanians, but all citizens whose
    countries are reporting increased epidemiological risks. The lists are
    constantly being updated.


    (Translated by V.
    Palcu)

  • July 12, 2020

    July 12, 2020


    COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Another 456 new infections were announced
    in Romania on Sunday by the Group for Strategic Communication, taking the total
    number of infected to 32.535. 23.387 people infected with COVID-19 have
    recovered, while 1.884 people have died. 243 patients are now in intensive
    care. Liberal Prime Minister Ludovic Orban says the state is virtually
    incapacitated in dealing with the pandemic, after the Senate on Saturday
    postponed the debate and vote on a Government bill on isolation and quarantine.
    On Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies passed the law in a heavily modified form.
    The Social-Democrats in opposition claim the law infringes on citizens’ rights
    and liberties, calling on the Prime Minister, Justice Minister and
    representatives of the Superior Council of Magistracy and human rights
    associations to attend the debate in the Senate.




    RESTRICTIONS – Greek
    authorities have suspended until Tuesday the electronic platform for traveller
    registration, ahead of changing border crossing regulations for land entries.
    As of Wednesday morning, Romanian tourists will have to provide proof of a
    negative test against COVID-19, no older than 72 hours. The documentation must
    be in English and contain the traveller’s identification data. The Romanian
    Foreign Ministry recalls this test does not exclude the obligation of
    completing the online form or being subject to random testing at the border.
    Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has called on the 120 centers doing corona testing
    in the country to take priority in testing tourists with planned holidays in
    Greece. On social media many Romanians have already announced their readiness
    to give up their holidays, mostly due to the expenses associated with voluntary
    testing. Other EU countries have announced restrictions for Romanian citizens.
    People with holiday plans in Austria need documents proving they tested
    negative for SARS CoV2, which must be no older than 4 days at the time of
    entry. The document needs to be translated into German and English and be
    accompanied by proof of accommodation in this country. Anyone failing to
    provide the said documentation will be placed in isolation for 14 days. As of
    Monday, Lithuania will deny access to Romanians, with the exception of people
    on transit to Romania.




    MIGRANTS – Two Serbian
    nationals, who helped 13 Syrians illegally cross into Romania, were picked up
    on Saturday night by the Romanian border police and are now being investigated
    for migrant trafficking. The Syrian citizens, nine men and four women, are aged
    17-30. The Serbian drivers were planning on taking them to Western Europe in
    exchange for €900. The Romanian Border Police has advised citizens against
    transporting unknown people in border areas and to notify the authorities
    whenever they are presented with such requests.




    WEATHER ALERTS – The National Meteorological
    Administration has issued a code yellow alert against extreme weather phenomena,
    in place until Sunday night for three quarters of Romania’s territory. During
    the interval, the west, north and center of the country will see heavy
    rainfalls, thunderstorms, strong wind and hail. Meteorologists expected flash
    floods in these areas as well.




    TENNIS – Tennis
    player Simona Halep, world no. 2 has confirmed her participation in the WTA
    tournament in Palermo, Italy, the first in the WTA circuit after the long
    hiatus caused by the coronacrisis. In a video posted on social media, she said
    she would take part in the competition in Sicily, which will be played on clay
    court over August 3-9. Halep played her last match in February, in the final of
    the tournament in Dubai, which she won against Elena Rybakina of Khazakstan. Oliveiro
    Palma, the director of the tournament in Palermo, said Halep’s
    participation is exceptional news, it had been decades since Palermo last
    hosted a former No.1.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)