COVID-19 - Romanian State of Alert Extended

As expected, on 16.06.2020 the Romanian government extended the state of alert (starea de alertă) for another month. While there are still many obligations for all economic entities, e.g. to ensure the epidemiological triage and hand disinfection, some restrictions of practical relevance were however lifted.

Read our article on the changed rules allowing people to enter Romania from states for which the obligation to self-isolate was cancelled (“exempt states“) here: https://stalfort.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200615_NEWSFLASH_Entry_in_Romania_as_of_June_15th-FOLLOW-UP.pdf or at https://stalfort.ro/en/news/.

There is still an obligation to wear masks in closed public places, offices, public transportation and at the workplace.

Further bans apply on gatherings (either in public spaces and/or closed spaces) with specific rules, but also on sports and leisure activities such as cycling, hiking, running, climbing etc. in groups of more than 6 persons who do not live together.

Private events are allowed provided that rules on social distancing are observed

• in closed spaces, in groups of max. 20 persons;
• in public spaces, in groups of max 50 persons.

Specific travel bans with few exceptions apply also for non EU-foreigners and stateless persons (according to the Emergency Ordinance No. 194/2002). Flights from and to Belgium, France, Iran, Italy, UK/ Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, USA and Turkey are suspended; the resumption will be possible if the countries will be exempted by the Romanian authorities (INSP and CNSU) of the obligations of self-isolation.

Serving food and drinks is prohibited inside restaurants, hotels, pensions, coffee shops etc. but is allowed outdoors, for groups of maximum 4 persons belonging to different families, while observing a 2m distance between the tables.

At the same time, severe restrictions apply for indoor activities:

• In commercial centers, (only) indoor restaurants, coffee shops, gambling activities, gaming venues and cinemas will remain closed.
• Indoor swimming pools, gaming venues and playgrounds remain closed.

The good news for parents is that day care centers, kindergartens and after schools can open during the summer vacation.

For a detailed presentation of the applicable rules, see our publication under:

https://stalfort.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200618_NEWSFLASH_COVID-19.-State_of_alert_extended%e2%80%93with_some_restrictions_lifted.pdf