BUCHAREST, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Romanian caretaker Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and all his cabinet members had to self-isolate at home starting from Friday, after a senator they were in close contact with was confirmed earlier in the day to be infected with the novel coronavirus.
"I'll self-isolate at Vila Lac 1," said Orban, also leader of the ruling National Liberal Party (PNL), who attended the meeting of the party's National Standing Bureau (BPN) on Thursday, together with Liberal senator Vergil Chitac, who tested positive for COVID-19 later.
"I guarantee that, no matter what the diagnosis will be, I fulfill my duties with conscientiousness, devotion and a spirit of sacrifice," he told the local media when asked if he is afraid of possible infection.
He emphasized that the government and its institutions would work normally, as "there are tools needed to communicate with anyone, to transmit any provision, to take any action and to sign any decision... The electronic mechanism, the software, which allow us to organize online government meetings, is almost functional."
According to him, all of the BPN members, as well as Liberal senators, will also self-isolate at their domiciles.
As of Friday afternoon, 80 cases of novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania, after the first case was reported on Feb. 27 when a 20-year-old Romanian was infected by a visiting Italian.
So far, all primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens across the country were closed, many universities followed suit.
The authorities banned all activities involving more than 100 people indoors or 1,000 people outdoors, while the decision to ban or not activities will be taken locally if the number of participants is less than those specified above.
Romania also suspended flights as well as the road and rail transport of people to and from Italy, as most of the infections in Romania could be traced back to Italy.
Meanwhile, all foreign nationals coming from Italy, China, Iran and South Korea have to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine or self-quarantine according to the situation. It is estimated that foreigners from more countries will be added to the list of conditional entry.
