Coronavirus in Romania: Over 5,600 people fined for not respecting movement restrictions. Some got out of the house to walk their fish or take their cat to the mall

More than 5,600 people were fined for leaving the house without having any supporting documents or without a good reason, the Romanian Police announced on Thursday, after the first day of total quarantine in the country. The total value of the fines exceeds RON 7.4 million (EUR 1.54 mln).

Over 12,000 policemen made filters on Wednesday throughout Romania to check those who left their homes.

Starting Wednesday, March 25, at noon, Romanians who leave their homes must show to the authorities either a statement on their own responsibility or certificates from their employers.

Romanians can leave their houses only for a few reasons

There are only a few reasons why leaving the house is allowed, according to Military Ordinance 3, adopted on Tuesday evening, March 24. These exceptions are as follows:

a) travel in professional interest, including between home/household and the place of work and back;

b) travel to provide goods that cover the basic needs of the persons and the pets, as well as goods necessary for the professional activity;

c) travel for healthcare that cannot be postponed or performed remotely;

d) displacement for justified reasons, such as caring/accompanying the child, the assistance of elderly, sick or disabled persons or death of a family member;

e) short trips, near the house/household, related to the individual physical activity of the persons (excluding any team sports activities), as well as to the needs of the pets;

f) movement for blood donation, to blood transfusion centers;

g) travel for humanitarian or voluntary purposes;

h) travel for agricultural activities;

i) displacement of agricultural producers for the marketing of agri-food products.

For point a), employees need to show certificates from their employers. For the other points b) to i), people need to show a statement on their own responsibility with the reason for moving outside the household. The statement must either be printed and filled in handwriting or saved on the phone or tablet. The electronic version of the statement can be found here.

Some try to bend the rules

Romanians are known to be very creative when it comes to bending the rules or using any loopholes they see in mandatory regulations. Some have also tried to do the same with the movement restrictions.