Romania is again facing a lightning increase in Covid-19 cases. The latest official data, published by the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), shows a doubling of infections from one week to another, especially among children.
A possible peak of the Covid-19 epidemic at the beginning of the Inquam/ Octav Ganea photo school year
Romania enters the new school year with an ascension epidemic wave: Covid-19 cases have almost doubled in a single week, and the percentage of infected children, up to 9 years old, is approaching 40%.
Epidemiologist Octavian Jurma warns the possibility that the peak of the epidemic takes place during the beginning of the schools. At the same time, the pediatrician, Mihai Craiu, draws attention to symptoms less specific to the infection with SARS-COV-2, in the case of the little ones.
The epidemic accelerates before the beginning of the school year
The last report, published on the website of the National Public Health, shows that 3,850 new cases of people infected with SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19) were registered, we are talking about an increase of 87.2% compared to the previous week.
The statistical data show that 936 of the new cases of this period are of re -infected patients, testify for a period of more than 90 days after the first infection/another re -infection.
The distribution of Covid-19 cases confirmed by age groups is as follows:
0-9 years = 1,523 cases;
10-19 years = 307 cases;
20-29 years = 342 cases;
30-39 years = 385 cases;
40-49 cases = 277 cases;
50-59 cases = 306 cases;
60-69 years = 225 cases;
70-79 years = 305 cases;
≥ 80 years = 180 cases;
The biggest increases compared to the previous week were registered in the age groups: 70-79 years (53.1%), respectively, 40-49 years (49.3%), and the smallest growth, in the age group 0-9 years (43.3%). ” – It is shown in the Insp.
The growth is all the more worrying that in just three weeks, children under 10 have come to represent almost 40% of the total confirmed cases.
Octavian Jurma: “The vast majority of infections focus on this group, naive immune”
The doctor and researcher in public health, Octavian Jurma, says that the Covid-19 wave this summer has exceeded the initial forecasts.
“I anticipated an increase somewhere between 300-400% and a peak, around 5,000 cases. This growth is far beyond, so far there are 7,469 cases cumulated in August, starting with 4. July has had 1,703 cases. That means an increase of 338%”he explained, for the truth.
The upward trend is also confirmed by the weekly evolution.
“We have a very large growth, over 80% per week ”says the specialist, and the figures give him justice: after the beginning of August, there was an additional 50%, the next week the increase was 80%, and in the third week it reached 87%.
“We have no signs that that peak would occur, in mid-August, as it was last year. On the contrary, we see an acceleration, from 50% in the first week, to 80% the increase in the second week and 87% in the third. So I jumped from 1,142 cases, to 2,058, up to 3,850 cases published for the last week. More than double compared to July in just one week ”, points the jur.
The most exposed seem to be the children: from infants, to primary school. Some of them have the contact with the disease for the first time, therefore, they had nowhere to get immunity. In addition, they did not have the possibility of vaccination, in our country.
“In these 3 weeks, the share was 38% for the age group 0-9 years. Children under 5 have never been able to vaccinate in Romania, even though in other countries in Europe it was possible to do for 6 months ”recalls the researcher. The context becomes even more sensitive as the beginning of the school year coincides with the ascension of the wave.
“As things are outlined, we may wake up cUm This tip of the epidemic will take place during the beginning of the schools. Usually, the opening of schools on a variant of this new, meant an increase in the number of cases ”,
It warns the jur, pointing out that the students’ return to the community could feed a new acceleration.
In his opinion, the vulnerability of children is simply explained: “The vast majority of infections focus on this group, naive immune. They have never seen the virus before.”
Mihai Craiu: Reality in hospitals and atypical symptoms in children
The pediatrician, Mihai Craiu, from the National Institute for the Health of the Mother and Child “Alessandrescu-Rusescu” has been talking about the current situation in the hospital.
“NUmai in the last week I had 73 confirming positive. In principle, most of them with not forms of severity are not very large. I sent them home half, as they were schoolchildren and preschoolers who could be managed with symptomatic medication: fever, nose, generous hydration and monitoring. The very little ones, one -year -old and unfortunately, many have been admitted to“He said, for the truth.
This situation emphasizes that, although most children make light or medium -sized forms, infants and very young children can develop complications that require medical supervision. A new element to previous waves is atypical symptomatology, easy to confuse.
“Unlike previous waves, disease is no longer just respiratory. On the one hand, it is harder to recognize by parents. Many infants came with vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. And then, the parents did not ask themselves that it would be Covid-19. On the one hand, the aspect of mimicking other enterocolitis can be deceitful. On the other hand, the little ones did not meet with the disease. They, directly, were not exposed, and their parents have already had a decline in protective antibodies, because we know, according to studies, that antibodies remain at the protective level somewhere between 3-6 months. And through illness and vaccination ”,
explains the doctor.
Craiu also emphasizes the limited role of mother’s mother immunity.
“Mothers who had the disease a year and a half ago, in the Humicron Wave, no longer have protectors to transmit the transplacEntular or, by breast milk ”says the specialist.
Covid-19 section, dedicated to children, is already busy.
“AWe have a section that since the pandemic was intended for the hospitalization of these children with Covid-19 disease. It is an entire floor on the ground floor, near the Emergency Reception Department. At this moment, the section is full ” says Mihai Craiu.
From the perspective of the specialist, the current growth of infections is not surprising.
“It was expected. It was summer, with very large cultural events, where adults, who have lost their immunity meanwhile, borrowed from each other. Obviously, parents with young children also sent home ”he says. However, Mihai Craiu appeals to calm and correct information.
“The message should not be one of panic. In the current form (layer) We are not talking about a very severe disease in people without comorbidities ”,
points to the pediatrician.
The conclusion would be that most children recover quickly, with symptomatic treatment and home monitoring, and the risk of severe forms remains relatively low for healthy ones. Even so, doctors recommend parents to remain vigilant and pay more attention to hygiene.
What to do in schools
In the threshold of the school year, the opinions of the specialists converge on an idea: simple but efficient measures must be taken.
Octavian Jurma draws attention to the importance of air quality control in classrooms, stressing that relatively small investments can bring major benefits to student health:
“The best thing that would do in schools: air filtration systems. With relatively small investments could have secured classes from all over the country. Non-pharmaceutical methods that are effective, which prevent the air circulation of the virus. If the air is filtered before entering the class, no mask is needed. Airy of classes, instead of air conditioning ”,
he says.
The specialist explains that the air conditioning can promote the spread of the virus when there is no adequate ventilation, and the air filters and natural ventilation are simple, but very efficient solutions, to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 between students and teachers.
In addition, these methods allow to maintain a comfortable learning environment, without the mandatory mask need, which can reduce the resistance of children to prevention rules and maintain the normal school atmosphere.
Mihai Craiu comes with an important completion. Respect for hygiene remains one of the most effective methods to prevent virus transmission.
“What all the schools have to do is have running water and detergent at hand. We will not start to save the detergents ”says the doctor. The pediatrician draws attention to an apparently banal, but extremely important risk: transmission through dirty hands. Although we have been dislocated by this habit during the pandemic, the disinfectant gel should be endless from the backpack.
“The risk of transmission through the hands, which we put on sandwich, milk, horn, we take them to the eyes and so on, it is very big. People have been disobeying to wash their hands, to disinfect, after passing the pandemic fear. We must prepare, there is a vial with disinfectant gel in the backpack and re -enlarge the children to wash their hands thoroughly ”he draws attention.
However, if we talk about very sensitive children, or with chronic conditions, it would be ideal to limit the exposure.
“If a child is vulnerable, he is diabetic, he has problems with immunity, in these cases it would be good for parents to consider at home for two or three weeks, until the wave passes. You should consult with the doctor. The risk is high in infection, usually in the first two weeks, no more ”Octavian Jurma said.
Mihai Craiu also raises the problem of another vulnerable category, also: the elderly. In this specific case, he refers to grandparents who accompany their grandchildren to school and kindergarten.
“The beginning of kindergartens and schools, which will mean the agglomeration of the means of public transport of vulnerable people, because grandparents take and take grandchildren from school. There will be a small risk for people of a certain age and for the very young ones, who are not yet at the nursery nor in kindergarten ”says the doctor.
In the last period reported by INSP (August 18-24, 2025), there was also a death, caused by infection with Covid-19: a woman, over 80 years old, who had associated comorbidities.
