Romania: Authorities extend COVID-19-related state of alert and constituent restrictions until at least May 12 /update 17

Romania extends COVID-19 related state of alert and restrictions until May 12; significant business and travel disruptions continue.

Event

Authorities in Romania have extended the state of alert and related restrictions introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19 until at least May 12. A nationwide nightly curfew is in place from 22:00-05:00 during which time individuals may only leave their homes to perform essential tasks. In parts of the country where the infection rate is between 4-7.5 per 1,000 inhabitants curfew hours are increased to 20:00-05:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; the same extended curfew hours apply seven days a week areas with an infection rate greater than 7.5 cases per 1,000 inhabitants. The curfew will be lifted overnight from May 1-2 and May 8-9 to allow individuals to attend religious services.

Other domestic restrictions that remain in place include:

Public gatherings of more than six people are prohibited.
In areas where the COVID-19 incidence rate is below 3 per 1,000 inhabitants, catering establishments and cultural and entertainment venues are permitted to operate provided they comply with strict hygiene and social distancing requirements.
Nonessential business and services must close nightly at 21:00.
Facemasks are mandatory in all public spaces.

Romanian officials include regional infection rates in their daily press releases on the Government's official COVID-19 news website; as of April 11 Bucharest has an infection rate of around 6.3 per 1,000.

International Entry Restrictions
Under most circumstances, only travelers from European Economic Area (EEA) and EU countries are permitted to enter Romania. Exceptions are in place for family members of EEA citizens and residents, individuals traveling for essential work or study, individuals in transit, and individuals traveling for urgent reasons. Authorities keep and regularly update a list of "high-risk" countries. As of April 8, the list of high-risk countries includes Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Cyprus, Sweden, France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands, among others.

Permitted individuals arriving from countries not included on the list of high-risk areas can enter without restriction. Individuals arriving from high-risk countries must provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within the previous 72 hours and self-isolate for 14 days on arrival; this can be reduced to 10 days by testing negative for COVID-19 on day eight of self-isolation. Cross-border workers, transport workers, and individuals in transit remaining in Romania for less than 24 hours are exempt from the quarantine requirements. Individuals who can present proof they have received a full course of vaccination against COVID-19 no less than 10 days ago or have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 and recovered in the previous 90 days are also exempt from the quarantine requirements.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.