April 2 (SeeNews) - Romania's president Klaus Iohannis on Thursday asked the government to repurpose European funds and pay a monthly 500 euro ($547) bonus to medical staff treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
"I asked the government today to identify sufficient European funds to pay a monthly bonus to doctors and medical staff working with COVID-19 patients," Iohannis said during a teleconference broadcast by local TV station Digi 24.
So far, Romania has confirmed 2,738 cases of coronavirus infection and the number of deaths from the disease reached 94. Some 285 of all COVID-19 infection are medical staff, according to health ministry data.
As of Thursday, 15,407 people are in quarantine in Romania, while the condition of 114,699 people suspected of being infected and staying at home is being monitored.
Since March 25, people can go out only for work or to buy food and medicine. Citizens over 65 years of age can leave their homes only between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. and for an hour in the evening to walk their pets. They can also go to the doctor at any hour during the day.
The Romanian authorities declared a 30-day state of emergency on March 16 in order to be able to tackle the coronavirus disease outbreak more efficiently.
($=0.9146 euro)