The Government of Romania: important explanations regarding the state of alert

The Romanian government is coming today with a series of important explanations related to the questions that some Romanians have regarding the state of alert, and it is very good to know what is happening, the answers to the questions below may help you.

The Romanian government explains below which is the metropolitan area of ​​a city what happens to people who are over 65 years old, and not only that, so it would be good to look carefully at what the authorities have to say now.

"How do you define the metropolitan area within which citizens do not need an affidavit to move around?

Localities within a radius of up to 30 kilometers from the main city are considered to be part of the metropolitan area (according to art. 11 of Law no. 351/2001 on the approval of the National Territorial Development Plan - Section IV Network of localities).
At the same time, the city of Bucharest and the entire territory of Ilfov county will be considered a metropolitan area.

Do people over 65 have any restrictions on leaving the house or any time interval they must respect?

CNSSU decision no. 24 regarding the declaration of the state of alert does not restrict the movement of people over 65 years old. They can leave the residence at any time they want. However, the recommendation to limit travel as much as possible and to avoid crowded places, especially for people in vulnerable categories, remains valid in order to reduce the risk of infection with the new Coronavirus.

Can the affidavit required to justify moving between localities be written by hand?

YES. The affidavit required to justify moving between localities can also be written by hand in compliance with the elements of the published standard form. If a new trip follows the same route mentioned in the affidavit, then it can be reused on other days, crossing out the initially specified date with a line and filling in the new date related to the day on which the trip takes place.

Will people who don't wear a mask be penalized?

Wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth is mandatory starting May 15, 2020 in commercial spaces, public transport, at work and in other closed spaces, according to the annex "Infection prevention and control measures applicable during the state of alert ", attached to Decision no. 24 of the CNSSU. Persons who do not comply with the obligation to wear a mask in the mentioned spaces may be penalized as a contravention based on Law no. 55/2020 regarding some measures to prevent and combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (published in the Official Gazette no. 396 of May 15, 2020) related to art. 65 letter h, respectively "non-compliance by individuals with individual protection measures of life" is sanctioned with a fine between 500 lei and 2500 lei.

Which option from the self-responsible declaration does a resident of the rural area who moves to another locality to shop at the supermarket, pharmacy or to insure some goods that he cannot purchase in the village/municipality check?

In the situation where the citizen moves between localities within the metropolitan area, he does not need a declaration on his own responsibility. If the insurance of the necessary goods cannot be done in the metropolitan area, the self-responsible declaration is required, checked in point 11 "other justified reasons".

Will there still be fines for non-compliance with the authorities' decisions regarding the state of alert?

Law no. 55/2020 regarding some measures to prevent and combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (published in the Official Gazette no. 396 of May 15, 2020) defines in Chapter III "Responsibilities and sanctions", art. 64-70 contraventions and the amount of fines for non-compliance with the normative act.

Also, the police apply the legislation in force. The aim of the authorities is not to sanction citizens, but to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In the context of the transition to the state of alert, the police will act mainly to guide citizens about the new rules.

Do the reading rooms in the libraries reopen?

This option is currently being analyzed by the authorities, and a decision will be announced in the next period. Library activities are allowed during the state of alert, according to CNSSU Decision no. 24 and the attached annex, subject to compliance with prevention and protection rules and compliance with INSP recommendations.

Do the private clinics reopen?

Private clinics had during the state of emergency and will continue to have the same status as state hospitals/clinics during the state of alert.

If a citizen has to urgently go to the bank in another locality, what does he check on the self-responsible declaration?

If the banking transaction cannot be carried out online, travel outside the town can be done on the basis of the self-responsibility declaration, ticking point 11 - "other justified reasons".

Is there any ban still valid after 22:00?

The prohibitions issued by the decision of the CNSSU are valid regardless of the time interval and are not different for the interval after 22.00.

Will the people who will stay in the same house with someone coming from outside the country also have to go into isolation for 14 days?

According to CNSSU Decision no. 24 and the attached annex, for all persons who have traveled abroad and enter the territory of Romania, the measure of quarantine/isolation at home is instituted together with the family/relatives with whom they live. There is the option of institutionalized quarantine for people who have traveled alone and do not want to expose their family.

How many people can participate in family events with a limited number of people, an option that can be found in point number 9 in the self-responsible declaration required to justify travel between localities?

If the family event involves a religious service inside the church (eg: wedding, baptism, funeral), the maximum number of people who can participate is 16 (point 5 (2), letter a of the annex "Infection prevention and control measures applicable during the state of alert", attached to Decision No. 24 of the CNSSU).

If the service is held in the churchyard, the number of participants is NOT limited, but the established prevention and protection measures will be respected.
For private family events (eg: anniversaries, parties, memorial reunions, etc.) held in closed spaces, the same number of people (maximum 16 people) will be taken into account with compliance with hygiene rules and as much as possible compliance with physical distance .

In the law approved by the Parliament there is a provision that allows the reopening of the terraces. Are the terraces open during the state of alert?

NOT. The terraces remain closed during the state of alert, according to Decision no. 24 of the CNSSU and the attached annex. Law no. 55/2020 regarding some measures to prevent and combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (published in the Official Gazette no. 396 of May 15, 2020) provides in article 8, para. 2 the possibility of opening terraces, not the obligation."