10.12.2021

NEW RESTRICTIONS ON ENTERING ROMANIA

Romania has introduced new travel restrictions and isolation measures for those entering the country as part of authorities' efforts to prevent a new health crisis following the outbreak of the Omicron strain.

The new travel rules will apply from today until January 8 and are aimed at preventing the transmission of the virus during the winter holidays. These include: evidence of a negative test for Covid-19 and quarantine for unvaccinated passengers coming from places at epidemiological risk. From 20 December, passenger location forms will be applied to improve the tracking of infections.

Places such as shops, cafes, malls and restaurants can now be open until 22:00, which is one hour longer than before, and people can enter without a vaccination certificate, but with proof of a negative Covid -19 test. Masks are no longer needed in crowded open public places, and for key winter holidays such as Christmas Eve and New Year, restrictions on working hours have been virtually removed.

Romania, with a population of about 19 million people, faced a catastrophic situation in October and November and has so far confirmed three cases of Omicron infection, which is thought to be more contagious than the previous strain of the virus. All three cases were found in people who came to Bucharest from South Africa in late November.