Romania to reopen shopping malls as coronavirus restrictions ease

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban announced late Thursday a new round of relaxations of COVID-19 restrictions, including the reopening of shopping malls, gambling rooms and outdoor swimming pools as of June 15, reported Xinhua.

According to Orban, spa treatment activities will also resume from June 15. The number of participants in outdoor sports and recreational activities will increase from three to six.

However, the ban will be still in place for cinemas, playgrounds and restaurants inside the shopping malls, he added.

This is the third round of relaxations announced in Romania after the country entered the state of alert in mid-May, following the end of a two-month higher-level state of emergency.

The pandemic in Romania has been fluctuating in the latest week, and the authorities said they believe it is necessary to extend the 30-day state of alert for another month after it expires next week.

Orban said the government will adopt the decision to extend the state of alert at its next meeting, stressing that this is the only effective way to contain the pandemic.

However, a number of opposition parties, including the largest Social Democratic Party, have made it clear that they do not support the government's extension decision.

To date, Romania has a total of 21,182 confirmed cases, with 1,369 fatalities.