The Romanian government has announced strict new anti-COVID-19 rules as authorities battle
a surge in cases and deaths. Romania has one of the highest death rates from the disease
in the world. Measures include a night-time curfew and closing schools. Doctors have launched
an emergency vaccination drive. It's been a desperate week in Romanian hospitals
as patient numbers surge. New infections are rising by around 15 thousand a day, with nearly
400 deaths. Intensive care beds are increasingly unavailable. One Bucharest clinic has run
out of space to store the dead. "All the stories on TV are about morgues filled
with dead people and relatives crying outside." The drastic situation in hospitals has sparked
a dramatic uptake in vaccinations. A huge vaccine is under drive is underway. A record
86,000 got the jab in a single day. "I really don't know why I decided so late
to get vaccinated" "People started to rush to get vaccinated,
even though most of them are only coming in because of the restrictions."
Romania's vaccination rates are still among the lowest in the European Union, with just
over a third of adults fully protected. COVID-19 rules are being tightened.
As of Monday the mask becomes mandatory everywhere we go, interior or open spaces.
"Those unvaccinated will have plenty of restrictions, unfortunately."
The restrictions will remain in place for thirty days at first. Romania is losing one
person every five minutes to COVID-19. It's a battle of life or death.
Many countries in eastern Europe are already dealing with overcrowded hospitals because
of the coronavirus. New infections and deaths in Ukraine are the highest they've been since
the beginning of the pandemic. A low vaccination rate means the population remains especially
vulnerable to severe infections, and the government has been forced to introduce new restrictions
on public life in response. Trying to console another gravely ill patient.
People suffering from Covid's Delta variant have practically filled this hospital west
of Kyiv. Doctors expect even more cases, and they know why.
"The severity of the course of the disease is certainly higher and it's more aggressive
than last year. Unfortunately, the patients in our department
are not vaccinated." Only 15 percent of Ukrainians are fully vaccinated
against the coronavirus - one of Europe's lowest rates. After experiencing the disease,
some people here say they should have acted differently.
"People need to get into their heads that they need to take care of themselves and get
vaccinated because it's really scary. I didn't believe it either."
As new cases and deaths from the disease reach new heights in Ukraine, more people are getting
their coronavirus shots. But not all have come voluntarily.
"Since it has become compulsory, we have no choice not to do it. Otherwise, we would not
do it."
Ukraine now requires many state employees including teachers to be vacccinated against
the virus. And to ride public transport, people now have
to be either be vaccinated or tested before traveling. But again, resentment against the
measures is widespread. "It should be a person's choice to get vaccinated.
According to the constitution, we have the right to choose, don't we? So my attitude
is entirely negative." To get around the restrictions, many Ukrainians
have been buying fake vaccination documents. Yet another problem for a country already
struggling with the pandemic.