New restrictions implemented by the authorities
The new restrictions introduced by the authorities through Government Decision (HG) 348/2021 have been published in the Official Gazette. Based on this, on Saturday, the Bucharest Prefecture announced how the restrictions are applied in the Capital.
Main measures for companies:
- The obligation for economic operators carrying out trade/service activities in closed and/or open, public and/or private spaces, to organize and conduct their activity between 05:00 and 21:00. By exception, between 21:00 and 05:00, economic operators may only operate in relation to economic operators with home delivery activities.
- The obligation for economic operators carrying out trade/service activities in closed and/or open, public and/or private spaces, to organize and conduct their activity on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 05:00 and 18:00, in all localities where the 14-day cumulative incidence is greater than 4 and less than or equal to 7.5/1,000 inhabitants. The measures do not apply if the 14-day cumulative incidence is less than or equal to 3.5/1,000 inhabitants. By exception, between 18:00 and 05:00, economic operators may only operate in relation to economic operators with home delivery activities.
- The obligation for economic operators carrying out trade/service activities in closed and/or open, public and/or private spaces, to organize and conduct their activity between 05:00 and 18:00, in all localities where the 14-day cumulative incidence exceeds 7.5/1,000 inhabitants. The measures do not apply if the 14-day cumulative incidence is less than or equal to 7/1,000 inhabitants. By exception, between 18:00 and 05:00, economic operators may only operate in relation to economic operators with home delivery activities.
- Exception: pharmaceutical units, gas stations, economic operators with home delivery activities, as well as economic operators in the field of road passenger transport using vehicles with a capacity of more than 9 seats, including the driver’s seat, and those in the field of road freight transport using vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of over 2.4 tons may carry out their activity under normal working conditions, respecting sanitary protection norms.
- The activity of economic operators carried out in closed spaces in the field of gyms and/or fitness centers is suspended in localities where the 14-day cumulative incidence is greater than 4/1,000 inhabitants. The measure does not apply in localities where the 14-day cumulative incidence is less than or equal to 3.5/1,000 inhabitants.
- In all localities where the 14-day cumulative incidence is greater than 4 and less than or equal to 7.5/1,000 inhabitants, the movement of persons outside the home/household is prohibited on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 20:00 and 05:00 (with a series of exceptions detailed below). For the movement of persons outside the new permitted time intervals, companies may issue employees certificates for professional travel (See below the time intervals in which movement is prohibited, depending on the incidence of COVID cases).
Restrictions in Bucharest – 2021 State of Alert:
Starting from March 28, 2021, at 00:00, the following measures were ordered for a period of 14 days, to be re-evaluated at the end of this period or upon reaching the threshold of 7.5/1,000 inhabitants:
1) Movement of persons outside the home/household is prohibited between 22:00 and 05:00 from Monday to Thursday, and between 20:00 and 05:00 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, provided the cumulative incidence is maintained at a maximum of 7.5/1,000 inhabitants, with the following exceptions:
a) travel for professional interest, including between the home/household and the place(s) of professional activity and back;
b) travel for medical assistance that cannot be postponed or performed remotely, as well as for the purchase of medicines or for vaccination according to the appointment;
c) travel outside the localities of persons who are in transit or performing journeys whose time interval overlaps with the prohibition period, such as those made by plane, train, coaches, or other means of passenger transport, and which can be proven by ticket or any other method of payment for the journey;
d) travel for justified reasons, such as caring for/accompanying a child, assistance for elderly, sick, or disabled persons, or the death of a family member;
e) leaving the residence to protect life or physical integrity in case of a serious and imminent danger, by calling the Single National Emergency Call System – 112.
To verify the reason for travel for professional interest, persons are required to present, at the request of the competent authorities, the service ID/certificate issued by the employer, or a self-declaration.
To verify travel for personal interest, they are required to present the self-declaration, completed in advance.
For travel to the vaccination center, persons are required to present proof of appointment.
The applicability of the measure ceases when the cumulative incidence rate over a 14-day period drops below 3.5/1,000 inhabitants.
For participation in religious services officiated on the occasion of the Passover holiday, the movement of persons outside the home/household is permitted on 28.03.2021, between 20:00 and 22:00.
For participation in religious services officiated on the occasion of Catholic Easter, the movement of persons outside the home/household is permitted during the period 03.04.2021 – 04.04.2021, between 20:00 and 02:00.
2) The schedule of economic operators carrying out trade/service activities in closed and/or open, public and/or private spaces, may take place between 05:00 and 18:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. From Monday to Thursday, the schedule may be carried out between 05:00 and 21:00, provided the cumulative incidence is maintained at a maximum of 7.5/1,000 inhabitants.
By exception from the above provisions, between 21:00 and 05:00 from Monday to Thursday, and 18:00 and 05:00 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, economic operators may only operate in relation to economic operators with home delivery activities.
Also by exception from the above provisions, pharmaceutical units, gas stations, economic operators with home delivery activities, as well as economic operators in the field of road passenger transport using vehicles with a capacity of more than 9 seats, including the driver’s seat, and those in the field of road freight transport using vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of over 2.4 tons may carry out their activity under normal working conditions, respecting sanitary protection norms.
The applicability of the measure ceases when the cumulative incidence rate over a 14-day period drops below 3.5/1,000 inhabitants.
At the same time, it was decided to suspend the activity of economic operators carried out in closed spaces in the field of gyms/fitness centers. The applicability of the measure ceases when the incidence rate drops below 3.5/1,000 inhabitants.
3) Customer access within shopping centers where several economic agents operate, such as malls, will be carried out in such a way as to ensure the maintenance of a physical distance of at least 2 meters and by ensuring a minimum area of 7 sqm/person, respecting all provisions of the Joint Order of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Economy, Energy, and Business Environment no. 1088/1910 of 2020.
4) Access to agri-food markets and mobile markets is done by respecting a distance of at least 2 m between any two persons, but without exceeding 50% of the maximum capacity of the market, applying the provisions of Joint Order 335/2020 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Public Works, Development and Administration, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
5) STB S.A. will permanently monitor the occupancy level of the transport means it serves, in order to reduce crowding in vehicles and stations, especially during peak hours. The boarding/disembarking circuit in the transport means will be respected, with passenger access through the front door and disembarking through the back door. STB S.A. will inform passengers about the obligation to correctly wear a protective mask and to avoid consuming food products in public transport, through audio-video means and by display in public transport vehicles.
6) Metrorex S.A. will inform and guide the traveling public through sound stations about crowding situations that arise and will inform them about the obligation to maintain physical distancing and to correctly wear a protective mask.
It was decided that in educational units, participation in classes will take place as follows:
* With physical presence for:
– all preschoolers and primary school students,
– students in grades VIII, XII, XIII, and students in terminal years of vocational and post-secondary education, respecting and applying all protection norms, up to half of the total number of students enrolled in the respective terminal classes;
The organization with physical presence in educational units of the following activities is permitted:
– national exam simulations and exams for terminal years;
– national evaluations.
** Daily participation, in an online system, for students in other classes/years of study.
7) It was decided to prohibit the activity with the public of economic operators carrying out activities of preparation, sale, and consumption of food products and/or alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, such as restaurants and cafes, inside buildings, as well as inside other closed public spaces that have a roof, ceiling, or overhead and which are delimited by at least two walls, regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent structures.
At the same time, it was decided to prohibit the activity of restaurants and cafes inside hotels, guesthouses, or other accommodation units, except for serving persons accommodated inside these units.
The preparation, sale, and consumption of food products and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted in specially designated spaces located outside buildings, in the open air, as well as in public spaces if they have a ceiling and a single wall, ensuring a distance of at least 2 meters between tables and the participation of a maximum of 6 people at a table, if they are from different families and respecting the sanitary protection measures established by joint order of the Minister of Health, the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, and the President of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority.
The preparation of food and the sale of food products and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages that are not consumed in the respective spaces are permitted.
Activity in bars, clubs, and discos is not permitted.
The activity with the public of economic operators licensed in the field of gambling is prohibited, except for the activity of selling LOTO-type tickets, bets, and lottery tickets, respecting sanitary protection measures.
8) The organization and conduct of activity with the public within cinemas, performance and/or concert institutions, including drive-in types, is prohibited.
The organization and conduct in the open air of performances, concerts, public and private festivals, or other cultural events is prohibited.
Wearing a protective mask is mandatory, so that it covers the nose and mouth for all persons who have reached the age of 5, in all public spaces.
We specify that the contravention regime applicable for non-compliance with the measures ordered is that established in art. 64 – 70 of Law no. 55/2020.
Depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation at the level of the Municipality of Bucharest, additional measures may be established, respecting the legal norms in force.
Other exceptions in Bucharest:
1. For vaccination, travel is permitted.
2. Victims of domestic violence can travel to police stations or reception centers, as can any person who is in a situation of being forced to leave the house to protect their life or physical integrity, their own or that of the persons they care for.
3. Medical offices, including dental ones, are not affected by the reduction of the schedule of economic operators.
4. Taking pets out in front of the house is permitted, as long as the person does not travel anywhere else and presents proof that they live in the building in front of which they are located.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the business hours for shops in Bucharest during the weekend?
In areas where the incidence exceeds 4 per 1,000 inhabitants, businesses must close at 18:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Are gyms and fitness centers open?
Gym activities are suspended in localities where the 14-day cumulative incidence rate is higher than 4 per 1,000 inhabitants.
What documents are required for travel during curfew hours?
For professional travel, an employee ID or a certificate from the employer is required. For personal reasons, a completed self-declaration form must be presented.