COVID-19 IN ROMANIA -Over 2,200 new cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in Romania on
Wednesday. The number of hospitalized patients is around 10,000. Of these, more
than 1,300 are in intensive care. The total toll, since the beginning of the
pandemic in February last year, has exceeded 1,050,000 cases of infection and
27,800 deaths. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has once again called
on the population to get vaccinated, stating that this is the only way to end
the pandemic. The authorities want to accelerate the vaccination process by
opening new vaccination centers over the coming days. On Thursday, the first
drive-through center will be opened in Bucharest, where people will be able to
get the jab without prior appointment. Moreover, between May 7-9, a marathon of
anti-Covid vaccination will be organized in the Capital. Currently, about a
thousand vaccination centers are active, with a capacity of over 120,000
immunized people / day. So far, about 3.2 million Romanians have been
vaccinated.
HOLIDAY -Before the May 1st mini-holiday, which this year coincides with the
Orthodox Easter holiday, Prime Minister Florin Cîţu calls on the population to
keep observing anti-coronavirus sanitary rules, even if Romania is now on a
descending slope of the third wave of the pandemic. He has urged the prefects
and the police to take all measures to ensure compliance with the health rules
in place. In the Romanian resorts on the Black Sea, over 30 thousand tourists
are expected during the mini-holiday of May 1 and Easter. About 100 hotels will
be opened, many of them already occupied at 70% capacity, the maximum allowed
by the authorities. Tourists are not allowed to party on the beach, and wearing
a mask is mandatory.
GOVERNMENT -The Government in
Bucharest on Wednesday approved two projects for the repair and modernization
of the Romanian railways as well as a loan worth 150 million Euro from the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will be used to reform
the health-care system. Also on Wednesday the Government adopted an emergency
decree for the protection of Romanian workers abroad, which will also help combat
illegal employment more effectively. The decree also aims to prevent and reduce
the possible effects caused by the existence of situations of force majeure or
health crisis.
VISIT – Romania’s Foreign Minister,
Bogdan Aurescu, on Wednesday met his Hungarian counterpart, Péter
Szijjártó, in Gyula, Hungary, home to an important community of Romanians. The
two officials signed a cooperation protocol focusing on national minorities and
two agreements modifying the bilateral judicial framework with a view to
creating two border crossing points, in Variaşu Mic/Dombegyhaza and
Grăniceri/Elek. Minister Aurescu said Bucharest expects Hungary to provide
financial support to Romanian-language teaching, develop the network of schools
and high schools and provide the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric in Budapest with a
property. The Romanian official also discussed with his Hungarian counterpart
about employing Romanian speakers in public institutions in those towns and
villages with Romanian minorities, restoring Romanian churches and the
financing and encouragement of Romanian-language print press and audiovisual
media. Also on Wednesday, Bogdan Aurescu met with representatives of the
Romanian community in Hungary, discussing the protection and promotion of
ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious rights.
MOLDOVA – The
pro-European president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, on Wednesday
announced she signed the decree for the dissolution of Parliament and the
organization of early parliamentary elections on July 11. The decision followed
a Constitutional Court ruling invalidating Parliament’s decision to declare a
state of emergency for 60 days until May 30, during which time Parliament
cannot be dissolved and early election cannot be held.
BREXIT – The European Parliament on
Wednesday ratified the post-Brexit trade agreement between the EU and the UK,
after MEPs debated and voted the agreement on Tuesday. Parliament explained
that, although it’s not ideal, the agreement is the best option to curb some of
the serious effects of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU and securing the
integrity of the single market. The document instates new preferential clauses,
including trading in goods and services, digital trade, copyright, public
procurement, aviation and rail transport, energy or fishing. Wednesday’s vote
thus puts an end a period of four years of difficult negotiations and debates.
TENNIS -
Romanian tennis players Simona Halep and Sorana Cîrstea on Thursday will play in the first round of the WTA
1000 tournament in Madrid, totaling 2.5 million Euro in prizes. Halep (3 WTA)
has won the tournament twice, in 2016 and 2017. She will play Sara Sorribes
Tormo (46 WTA) of Spain. Cîrstea (58 WTA) will take on Jessica Pegula (33 WTA)
of the United States, a week after winning the title in Istanbul. On Wednesday,
another two Romanians entered the main draw. Ana Bogdan (102 WTA) defeated
Japan’s Nao Hibino (82 WTA), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In turn, Irina Begu (75 WTA) won
6-3, 6-3 against Stefanie Voegele (127 WTA) of Switzerland. (V.P.)