The number of new COVID-19 infections in Romania nearly doubled over the last week, with a peak of 10,000 daily cases expected in mid-August, health minister Alexandru Rafila said on Monday.

The number of new infections approached 8,000 over the last week, compared with 3,974 new cases in the previous week, but the number of hospitalisations and deaths remained low, Reuters reported.

Romania is the EU’s second-least vaccinated state — with just over 42% of the population fully inoculated amid distrust of state institutions and poor vaccine education. As of July 1, those who want to get vaccinated or get boosters will have go to a family doctor as the government has phased out dedicated vaccination centres, reported Romania Insider last month.