Bucharest—Romania’s government barred most foreigners from entering the country on Saturday and tightened restrictions on movement inside the country to try to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.
“Foreign citizens and stateless persons are banned from entering Romania through all border points,” Interior Minister Marcel Vela said during a national address.
Exceptions would be allowed for those transiting through Romania using corridors to be agreed with neighboring states, he added.
Vela cited the example of neighboring Hungary, which this week also barred entry to foreign nationals but has allowed Romanians returning from Western Europe to transit its territory.
Exceptions to the new ban will also be made for diplomats, people who need to travel for work purposes, those who have immediate Romanian family and those in humanitarian need.
The government also announced further restrictions to those adopted after President Klaus Iohannis declared a state of emergency on Monday.
As of Saturday evening, dental clinics were closed, people were forbidden to attend church services and any public gathering of more than three people was also forbidden.
Weddings and funerals are to be limited to eight people.
Between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. people are not to leave the house unless necessary for work reasons.
Romania has confirmed 367 cases of the novel coronavirus, but has so far reported no deaths.