New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced by the Prefect of Cluj County that will come into affect from Thursday, October 7th 2021.

National Restrictions

As Cluj-Napoca has exceeded 7.5/1000, there are a number of new national which were introduced, which will affect people within Cluj-Napoca.

• It is mandatory for anyone aged 5 years or above to wear a protective mask in all closed and open public spaces, with the following exceptions for open spaces:
  • individuals carrying out activities, including sports, individually or together with the people that they live;
  • a person traveling alone or with people living together, in an open space where it is not crowded (sports activity, activity in the park, on the street, cycling, etc.);

When a person interacts with someone other than the person they live with, they are no longer considered an individual activity and must wear a mask.

Other restrictions outlined by local authorities are considered in addition to national measures.

Local Restrictions

The following updates have been published with regards to the restrictions around COVID-19 in Cluj-Napoca.

The vast majority of the conditions require vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or the person must have been infected with COVID-19 and are between the 15^th and 180^th day of the positive result. For the sake of simplifying these requirements, we will refer to them as the “safe attendance” criteria, both of which can be proved by generating the COVID-19 Green Certificate.

1. Sports competitions can take place in open or closed spaces with up to 50% of the maximum capacity of the space and with at least 1sqm between people. Attendees must also satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
2. Cinemas, performances, and concerts are allowed to operate with up to 50% capacity, with all participants wearing a protective mask. Participation is permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
3. Activities carried out by public or private cultural institutions, which manage spaces specifically designated for cultural/artistic activities, are allowed with members of the public, with up to 50% capacity. Attendees must ensure a minimum distance of 1sqm and wear a mask. Participation is permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
4. Organising outdoor performances, such as concerts, festivals and other cultural events, is permitted with up to 50% capacity. Attendees must ensure a minimum distance of 1sqm and wear a mask. Participation is permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
5. Drive-in shows are permitted, with a maximum of 4 people, per vehicle, unless all occupants are from the same family. In addition, participation is permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
6. Outdoor recreational and sport activity is allowed, providing that participants satisfy the safe attendance criteria. Participation is limited to 10 people, if those people do not live together.
7. Private events such as weddings and baptisms, etc., can take place with the participation of up to 50% capacity of the venue, but no more than 200 people, indoors or outdoors. Participation is permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
8. Training courses and workshops for adults can take place, including those financed by European funds, with the participation of up to 50% capacity of the venue, inside or outside. Each person needs to have a minimum distance of 2sqm and must wear a protective mask, and respect the public health guidelines established by the Ministry of Health. Attendees must also satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
9. Conferences can be held, with participation up to 50% capacity of the venue, inside or outside. Participants must ensure a distance of at least 2sqm for each person, who need to be wearing a mask and respecting the public health guidelines, established by the Ministry of Health. Only those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria, may attend.
10. Under Law no. 60/1991, rallies and demonstrations can take place with a maximum of 100 participants. All participants are required to wear a protective mask and must satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
11. Businesses, who prepare, advertise and sell food or beverages, such as restaurants and cafes, are able to continue providing services between the hours of 5 AM and 12 AM (midnight), at a maximum capacity of 50% both indoors and on terraces, to those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
12. Similarly, any businesses providing similar services inside hotels and other accommodation are only allowed to provide those services to people who are registered guests accommodated by that venue.
13. Businesses that offer or advertise food or beverages that are located within malls or shopping centers, are able to serve up to 50% of the capacity of the delimitated areas and access to those areas are subject to the visitors satisfying the safe attendance criteria.
14. Measures 11, 12 and 13 also apply to businesses and organisations who carry out their activity within a closed public space, which have a roof and at least 2 walls, regardless as to whether they are temporary or permanent structures.
15. With regards to measures 11, 12 and 13, takeaway services can still be provided, as long as they are not consumed on-site.
16. Businesses and organisations mentioned in measures 11, 12 and 13 are obligated to comply with the measures ordered by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism.
17. For locations with designated spaces outdoors, in open air for the preparation, selling and consumption of food and beverages, they can continue to operate, providing that they are in compliance with the health measures established under a joint order of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy Entrepreneurship and Tourism and the President of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority.
18. Activity in Bars and Clubs is prohibited.
19. Gyms and Fitness venues, can continue to operate at a maximum of 50% capacity, and ensuring that each person has at least 4sqm of space between them.  Each person is also required to satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
20. Gambling venues are permitted to operate at a maximum capacity of 50%, and participation is only permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
21. Swimming pools can continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50%, providing that all visitors satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
22. Businesses and organisations that operate and manage indoor playgrounds for children, are allowed to continue operating, as long as they do not exceed 50% capacity of the space and only between the hours of 5 AM and 12 AM (midnight). Participation is permitted for those who satisfy the safe attendance criteria.
23. Game rooms, such as arcades, bowling alleys or pool clubs are permitted to operate at a maximum capacity of 50% between the hours of 5 AM and 2 AM providing that each attendee satisfies the safe attendance criteria.

Additional Measures

Due to the fact that Cluj-Napoca has exceeded a cumulative incident rate of 7.5/1000, additional measures have been introduced. Those measures are as follows:

These additional measures do not apply to individuals that have either been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and at least 10 days has passed since the vaccination was completed, or you are between the 10^th and 180^th day of being confirmed positive for the COVID-19 infection. It will be required to present either the Romanian vaccination certificate or the European Union’s “Green Certificate”, either in printed form or digital form.

1. Travel outside of the home is forbidden between the hours of 8 PM and 5 AM, with the following exceptions.
   • Those travelling for professional reasons, such as to or from a workplace, are required to present the service card or certificate issued by the employer or the “declaration of own responsibility” and present it, upon requested, to any competent authority.
   • If travelling for personal reasons, such as medical care which cannot be postponed, the purchase of medicine, childcare of assistance for the elderly, sick or disabled, or death of a family member. In such cases, the individual is required to complete the “declaration of own responsibility” and present it, upon requested, to any competent authority.
   • If travelling in order to board a scheduled departure of a flight, bus or train, you will be required to provide evidence in the form of a boarding pass or ticket.
2. Businesses and organisations that carry out any trade or services in closed or open spaces, are only able to provide in-person services between 5 AM and 10 PM. If take-away or home-delivery services are provided, this can continue outside of the mentioned hours.

Pharmacies, Gas Stations and transport services, both of goods and people are still able to operate outside of the hours where travel is restricted.

In addition, if you are vaccinated, but from a country that does not recognise or use the EU's Green Certificate, as listed here, then proof of vaccination in the form of a document or certificate, issued by authorities from your home country will be required.

We have prepared an auto-translating version of the Declaration, which can be downloaded below:

Both the content of this article and the declaration form are translated and simplified versions of the measures introduced by the Prefect of Cluj County as the result of decision available in original here and here.