Covid balance sheet: 1.000 new infections

Today, the threshold of 1.000 new COVID infections has been exceeded. 1.015 cases were reported resulting from almost 44.000 tests. 19 people died from yesterday until today, and one of these deaths was recorded in the age group 30-39. 1.815 people are hospitalized with COVID, 243 patients are in serious condition in Intensive Care.

Host: Laurentiu Vaduva - Minister of Health Ioana Mihaila states that currently the evolution of the number of COVID-19 cases is faster and steeper than the previous waves of the pandemic, but the authorities expected this due to the fact that the Delta strain is more contagious. She also specified that, according to the estimates of the National Institute of Public Health, at the end of next month there could be approximately 4.000 hospitalizations. The health minister also said that if restrictions are needed, they will not target vaccinated people.

Ioana Mihaila: If the numbers get worse, we need to intervene with measures to prevent and limit the spread of the virus. What we want to prioritize is to speed up the vaccination campaign, because it is the most effective way to prevent infection, and to keep schools open as long as possible, because we do not want the education of children to be affected. If it is necessary to introduce means of restricting traffic, they will not target vaccinated people. As a last resort, schools will be affected, otherwise, we will discuss according to the evolution.

Host: The Minister of Health added that she does not know if by the beginning of the new school year all students will receive free protective masks. She specified that there is a need to change the legal framework in this regard, but gave assurances that all efforts will be made for schools to distribute free masks for selected cases, RRA reporter Catalin Purcaru transmitted.

Translated by: Radu Matei