Cars run on Mihai Bravu Avenue in Bucharest, Romania, March 16, 2020. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced that the country will enter an emergency state starting Monday, in an effort to ensure that the government uses all resources to fight the COVID-19 epidemic. (Photo by Gabriel Petrescu/Xinhua)
BUCHAREST, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Saturday that the country will enter an emergency state starting Monday, in an effort to ensure that the government uses all resources to fight the COVID-19 epidemic.
Iohannis made the announcement soon after the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet.
"It is very important that the measures that will be taken be taken on time, so that they bear fruit, and to make this fight possible with all instruments provided by law, I have decided to decree emergency state at the beginning of next week," said the head of state.
He said the emergency state will allow the allotment of new important resources, with simplified procedures, for the efficient management of the coronavirus epidemic.
The president also called on Romanians "to respect the advice, the indications of the authorities," to "avoid contacts that are not absolutely necessary" and "to get informed correctly, from public sources."
COVID-19 cases in Romania exceeded 100 on Saturday to reach 109. A total of 14,573 persons are now in home quarantine, while 2,652 are quarantined in officially designated locations.
Romania reported its first case of novel coronavirus on Feb. 27, after a 20-year-old Romanian was infected by a visiting Italian.
