COVID-19 – Saturday was the fourth consecutive day when Romania
reported over 30,000 daily Covid infections. Romania on Wednesday reported a
record-high number of new infections since the start of the pandemic – 34,255.
In Bucharest, the incidence rate has exceeded 16 per thousand inhabitants. The
rate has increased steadily since January 1, when it stood at 0.72. Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, said the
number of daily infections is expected to exceed 40 thousand next week, and
that the pandemic will start to slow down in approximately 10 days. Against the
backdrop of the growing infection rate and the swift spread of the Omicron
strain, the Romanian authorities are looking for ways to facilitate access to
testing and treatment, in order to relieve the burden on hospitals and
ambulance services. People can get a rapid test for Covid free of charge in
over 4,000 family physician practices across the country, or by paying a small
fee in some 138 drug stores. At national level, the Covid bed occupation rate
stands at some 30%, although there are significant differences between
counties. Some 8 million people have completed the full anti-Covid vaccination
scheme.
JETS – The German Air Forces will deploy three Eurofighter jets to
Romania in February and March, in the context of NATO consolidating its
military presence in Eastern Europe, amidst growing tensions on the Ukrainian
border. The jets will be integrated in the Italian squadron that was deployed
to Romania last month. The Italian unit comprises 140 military, including
pilots and technical staff, operating four Eurofighter Typhoon jets and
carrying out air policing missions. On the other hand, Washington will soon be
deploying troops to Eastern Europe, US president Joe Biden has announced. The
United States has already put 8,500 troops on high alert in order to supplement
NATO’s rapid response force in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. President
Biden said, however, that no American troops will be dispatched to Ukraine,
which is not a member of NATO. In turn, France’s Defense Minister, Florence
Parly, told France Inter that Paris is willing to send hundreds of troops to
Romania, a NATO member and a neighbor of Ukraine. France is also ready to take
responsibility for building an international defense force to defend Romania,
in the event such a decision is taken at NATO level.
ARREST – Romanian businessman Ioan Neculaie, who was handed a final
two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for weapons and munitions crimes, has been
apprehended in Greece, according to the Romanian Police Inspectorate. An arrest
warned was issued in the name of the former owner of FC Brașov football club
last week when he didn’t show up to carry out his sentence. Neculaie has been
previously sentenced for similar crimes as well as for manslaughter, and was
released on parole in 2018.
UKRAINE – The European Union has condemned Russia’s decision to ban
the entry to Russia of several European officials, a decision that continues to
deepen the crisis in Ukraine. The Russian diplomacy on Friday announced that
the heads of several European private military companies, members of security
agencies and certain MEPs and other European officials will be henceforth
banned from entering Russia. According to the Russian Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, these people are personally responsible for promoting anti-Russian
policies. In response, Brussels says this decision lacks any legal
justification and transparency, and is bound to generate an adequate response.
In other new, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, had a telephone conversation
with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. According to the French
presidency, Putin made no mention of any aggressive intensions and specifically
pointed out he seeks no armed confrontation with Ukraine. Additionally, the
Kremlin leader insisted on resuming Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, moderated
by France and Germany in the so-called Normandy format. In turn, Ukraine’s
president, Volodymyr Zelensky, urged Western leaders not to spread panic
regarding tensions with Russia, considering that diplomatic efforts have
intensified with a view to solving this crisis.
HANDBALL – The Romanian men’s handball
team will play North Macedonia in the first round of the 2023 World Cup
playoffs following Saturday’s draw hosted by Budapest. If it wins, Romania will
next play the Czech Republic in the second round in April. In other news, Romanian
handball club CS Măgura Cisnădie on
Saturday defeated HC Lada Togliatti of Russia, scored 27-24 on home turf, in an
EHF European League match. Ranking first in Group C is Herning-Ikast Handbold
of Denmark with 4 points in two matches, followed by CS Măgura Cisnădie with 4
points in 3 matches. The top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals. In
the next group fixture, CS Măgura Cisnădie will take on Lada Togliatti away
from home on February 6. (VP)