ROMANIA
/The following information has been collected and collated by convergence consulting in collaboration with our in-country Global Alliance Partner. Please let us know if you have additional questions by emailing us at COVID-19@cc-global.com.
1. Does your country’s health authority have guidelines or requirements for when COVID-19 cases are classified work-related and reported as a workplace illness?
Currently, in Romania there are no guidelines or requirements for work-related COVID-19 cases, and they are not reported as workplace illnesses.
2. Is there information on the timing of “return to work” and the process for a worker to return, i.e. examination by a physician, or a negative COVID test?
Although there is no specific information on the timing of ”return to work”, according to the Ministry Order no. 487/2020 and to the Guide on Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19, criteria for discharge from the hospital and further monitoring of patients is established and state:
The patient must not have a fever and the respiratory symptoms must show significant improvement.
There must be two consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests, with samples collected at least 24 hours apart. The samples are collected after at least seven days after the first positive test and at least three days after the fever has subsided.
Mild cases may be discharged sooner or recover at home with the following recommendations:
A minimum of 14 days isolation with health monitoring (direct or telephone) and with precautions taken including: staying in an individual room, wearing a mask, eating alone, hand washing and without leaving the house.
3. Does your country’s health authority have COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for the public and/or for business? If so, please list them below and how long they will be in place.
There are guidelines for the public and for businesses. On 16.March.2020, the President of Romania issued the Decree 195/2020 on establishment of the state of emergency. The state of emergency was extended until 14.May.2020, through the Decree 240/2020.
Also, ten Military Ordinances which include measures for the mitigation of COVID-19 were issued. The measures mainly refer to:
Social distancing.
Stopping non-essential activities (i.e. closing restaurants, closing all non-food stores); and
Home isolation and establishing exceptions in order to leave home.
These Military Ordinances are valid during the state of emergency and specific details of each can be found at: https://www.cnscbt.ro/index.php/legislatie_cov:
The public health authorities published the following COVID-19 mitigation guidelines:
Avoid crowded areas where there is potential for exposure and direct contact with a large number of people, such as public gatherings, queues, heavy traffic areas, recreation areas.
Limit any direct contact with other people, other than family members.
Avoid touching surfaces that are frequently touched by other people.
Keep a significant distance of at least 1.5 meters from the other people.
Use routes or alternative modes of transport as far as possible to avoid congested areas.
Avoid traveling to countries with a high number of new coronavirus infections (COVID-19) and discourage the return of people from high-risk countries/areas.
Romanians who return to the country from risk areas will have to enter self-isolation at home.
Limit the use of banknotes and coins by opting for card, phone or online payments.
Work from home, as long as this is a possibility offered by your employer.
Strictly follow the personal hygiene rules recommended by the authorities to protect both you and those close to you. Use a face mask if you have flu or cold symptoms to protect others.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after any contact with a potentially contaminated surface.
Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth with unhygienic hands.
If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable napkin, which you are careful to throw away immediately.
Frequently disinfect the surfaces you come in contact with, with alcohol or chlorine solution, both at home and at work.
Ventilate the rooms where you carry out activities several times a day.
Take antiviral or antibiotic medications only as prescribed by your doctor.
DO NOT drink liquids from the same bottle or glass and do not use the same cutlery as others.
DO NOT come into direct contact with people in self-isolation at home, whether or not they have specific coronavirus symptoms.
Keep in mind that not all cases of infection with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) are visible through specific symptoms (cough, fever, difficulty breathing).
Avoid the exposure of the elderly (over 65 years of age) and those with low immunity and associated diseases.
Tell your family doctor immediately if you have traveled to the areas affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), even if at that time they were NOT on the list of areas under alert.
Stay home if you have flu or cold symptoms (cough, fever, difficulty breathing) and call your family doctor for advice, DO NOT go to the emergency room immediately.
If you are in self-isolation at home, strictly follow the recommendations of the authorities, DO NOT leave home under any circumstances during the 14 days, DO NOT receive visitors and DO NOT come into close contact with any people who supply you with food or other products.
More details for these guidelines can be found at: http://www.ms.ro/recomandari-privind-conduita-sociala-responsabila-in-prevenirea-raspandirii-coronavirus-covid-19/
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection publishes recommendations for COVID-19 mitigation. The recommendations are established in order to ensure the health and safety of workers, and also to support employers in performing their activities.
These recommendations are updated frequently and can found on the their website: http://www.mmuncii.ro/j33/index.php/ro/comunicare/comunicate-de-presa/5827-recomand%C4%83rile-ministerului-muncii-%C8%99i-protec%C8%9Biei-sociale-%C3%AEn-scopul-prevenirii-r%C4%83sp%C3%A2ndirii-infect%C4%83rii-cu-coronavirus
4. Which governmental authority issued these guidelines, and are they voluntary or mandatory?
The Decree on establishing the state emergency is issued by the President and it is mandatory.
The Military Ordinances are issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and are mandatory.
The guidelines and recommendations are published on the public authorities websites and are NOT mandatory.
5. Do these mitigation measures have any consequence, such as, if a person does not abide by these measures must they pay a fine or go to jail?
Fines for failure to comply with the provisions of the mitigation measures are as follows: a fine between 416 EUR and 4,167 EUR for natural persons and a fine between 2,083 EUR and 14.583 EUR for nat (e.g. an organization/business).
In addition to the contraventions mentioned above, one or more of the following complementary sanctions may be applied (i.e. to inappropriate activities):
confiscation of goods intended, used or resulting from the contravention.
prohibition of access.
temporary suspension of the activity.
the dissolution of some works.
6. Has your country adopted any laws or regulations related to COVID-19?
Romania adopted laws and regulations related to COVID-19 mainly regarding the mitigation measures, state of emergency, sanitary regulations, and economic regulations to support companies and workers that have stopped their activities.
All the legislation related to COVID-19 can be found at: https://stirioficiale.ro/hotarari?page=2.
The data presented here is not a complete analysis of all COVID-19 information; however, our in-country Partner will provide updates as and when considered appropriate and as relevant data becomes available. If you have any additional questions, or request for country information, please email us at COVID-19@cc-global.com with additional inquiries.
