Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Bucharest, Romania (October 9, 2020)
Location: Romania
Event: Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the Institution of the Prefect of the Municipality of Bucharest introduced precautionary COVID-19 restrictions on Oct 7, 2020. These restrictions will remain in place until the cumulative incidence rate of cases drops below 1.5/1,000 inhabitants over a 14-day period. The incidence rate in Bucharest on October 8th was 2.31, and in Ilfov it was 1.68.
New COVID-19 Restrictions as of October 7, 2020:
- Indoor service at restaurants, cafés and bars is prohibited. The exceptions are hotel restaurants for overnight guests.
- Discos, clubs, and casinos are closed.
- Concert halls, cinemas, and theaters are closed.
- Masks covering the nose and mouth are mandatory within 50m of a school between 7:45am and 9:15 pm (reduced from 100m).
- Intensified control of activities in markets, fairs, and on public transportation.
- Strengthened enforcement of mask mandates.
The press release announcing these measures can be found here. For Bucharest-specific information, the Institution of the Prefect of the Municipality of Bucharest routinely updates their Facebook page with the most up to date guidance here. The corresponding Facebook page for Ilfov can be found here.
Those residing outside of Bucharest and Ilfov may monitor the situation directly by reviewing the incident rate by locality here.
Alerts and advisories
The Embassy’s highest priority remains supporting U.S. citizens in Romania. Romania remains in a nationwide state of alert. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory: Reconsider Travel for Romania. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Romania.
Please continue to monitor all security alerts from the U.S. Embassy and obey all ordinances imposed by the Government of Romania. The latest updates and further details on the state of alert are available on the Romanian Ministry of Interior’s website here.
U.S. citizens are not permitted to enter Romania unless they meet one of the specified exceptions. U.S. citizens wishing to know if they meet an exception for entry may consult the Ministry of Interior’s website here (.PDF file, unknown size, Romanian language only), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website here, or the Romanian Border Police’s website here. For quarantine requirements, travelers may consult the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) for a list of affected countries.
Overseas voting
If you plan to vote in the November 2020 election it is important to act now. Please check the regulations in the state in which you vote as deadlines may differ, and you may have alternative voting options such as electronic voting or by fax. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through U.S. Embassy Bucharest’s diplomatic pouch. Ballots received for diplomatic pouch delivery at U.S. Embassy Bucharest after October 6, 2020 will be forwarded but may arrive too late to be counted. If you have missed this deadline, consider returning your ballot to the United States via a commercial express courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or return your voted ballot electronically if allowed by your state. We strongly recommend you submit your ballot as far in advance as possible.
The Embassy will date-stamp voting materials upon receipt, but we cannot provide postage for the ballot envelopes. You can print a postage paid envelope using the template from the website of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, FVAP.gov, under “Election Forms and Materials.”
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Bucharest, Romania
B-dul Dr. Liviu Librescu, nr 4-6
Section 1, 014118, Bucuresti
+40-21-270-6000
Email: ACSBucharest@state.gov
Embassy website: https://ro.usembassy.gov/
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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