Radio România Internațional

Tag: lockdown

  • Romanians’ leisure moments and their favourite activities

    Romanians’ leisure moments and their favourite activities


    The
    Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped society dramatically. The lockdown, officially
    imposed worldwide, has ascribed our existence to a new paradigm. We became
    closer to one another thanks to the Internet, which literally melt away
    distances of any kind. As for governments worldwide, they globalized the
    protection mask. The downside of it all is isolation, but also the feeling of
    alienation. The good side, though, is the leisure time we have gained so far. We
    have discovered we are free to travel to work from our living rooms and
    therefore we can save no less than three hours a day. But that didn’t happen to
    all of us. According to a sociological survey, a mere 3 out of 10 Romanians
    believe they had more time on their hands than before the outbreak of the
    pandemic, while 4 out of 10 Romanians feel the need to sleep more. We will use
    the aforementioned survey to look at how such a crisis, which has been very
    serious so far, can influence the quality of our sleep. Apparently, the
    lockdown was long enough for us to sleep more, but that is not true. For most
    of us, quite a few problems we had been unaware of have resurfaced during the
    Covid-19 pandemic, at once generating atavistic behavior.




    The
    psychologist Daniela Ionescu:




    Man’s
    greatest fear is the fear of the unknown, and the pandemic has a great many
    unknown points. Information is scarce, often contradictory and menacing, the
    feeling of self-security has been seriously affected, fear and guilt crop up,
    as well as the fight-or-run behavioral patterns. A sneeze automatically
    triggers the question what if ..? in the mind of the person who sneezed, but also
    in the minds of those who happened to be around him. Our brains cannot stand
    uncertainty. The brain supplies the information itself, in the absence of real
    information, even distorting the objective reality, so that a coherent scenario
    can be created mb means of which it may take action in order to regain control.
    That is why, in circumstances pertaining to life’s natural progress, we’re
    often faced with misconstrued, exaggerated, abnormal reactions, since such
    circumstances are viewed in a context which is perceived as being dangerous.






    Now,
    consider such a tendency against the backdrop of the lockdown we had been going
    through this past spring. The outcome? The isolation and the measures imposed
    by the social distancing have tremendous repercussions on the human being,
    while a poor quality of sleep is the first symptom that something goes wrong.

    Sociologist
    Gelu Duminica.






    Sleep
    deprivation occurs in a multitude of contexts, according to specialists. Under
    pressure, in times of crisis, the human body reacts in many ways. It is highly
    likely that in a context of crisis, the tension you feel in your body may
    result in the fact that you cannot sleep any more. If your brain and your body
    did not have enough rest, that may also trigger a certain amount of over-tension
    in your body. It is like a vicious cycle: the tension is the cause of sleep
    deprivation, while sleep deprivation causes the tension. This period of Covid
    crisis has generated tension. Especially during its first part. Tension was
    also enhanced by all the messages we have been exposed to, in society, death is
    closer than you think, something could happen to you and to your nearest and
    dearest, also, tension was enhanced by the lockdown. And that, because lockdown
    was something we had not been familiar with, which wreaked havoc in our lives.
    And then man’s behavior, according to sociologists, greatly depends on
    background and circumstances. The circumstance we experienced was something we
    had not been used to. And then, logically speaking, the amount of tension ran
    high, also resulting in sleep deprivation.


    The
    lockdown was not much of a protection for us, since to all that, the social
    animal the human being is has reacted through depression and anxiety, which
    weaken the immunity system.




    Psychologist
    Daniela Ionescu:




    We’re
    genetically programmed to live in communities. We build our psychological
    balance in, and we progress through interaction, so social distancing is out of
    the question. The stronger you are connected to the others, physically,
    socially and psychologically, the better your physical and psychological
    condition is. Isolation can only engender chronic fatigue. You can experience
    panic attacks, sadness, helplessness, suicidal ideas may occur more often than
    not, overdrinking and drug-taking may also occur. Physical distancing does not
    provide much psychological balance either. We need to get close to somebody, we
    need the physical touch. For us, these are sources of confidence and security.
    It is the first language we learn as soon as we’ve come into this world. The
    most direct and the most complete language, which cannot be replaced by any
    other type of verbal or written communication. Fast and minutely, the touch
    conveys a much wider range of feelings and emotions than, for instance, our
    facial expression or our gestures. Any kind of distancing causes a greater
    amount of aggressiveness, of infliction or self-infliction. It triggers
    abnormal types of behavior, it causes depression, while a weakened immunity
    system is its aftermath, among other things. Or rather, distancing is meant to
    help us better understand the measure of human relationships, it will help us
    praise the presence of the other to a greater extent, their touches, their
    embraces, it will help us develop empathy, compassion, selflessness,
    self-awareness and the awareness of the world around us.




    In the sociological survey, 53 % of respondents admitted that going
    out, to a restaurant, a bar or beer garden are the activities they most missed
    during the lockdown. 42 % of them mentioned going to a concert or to the cinema
    were they activities they have missed. By way of comparison, a mere15%
    responded that doing their hobbies is what they missed most.




    Daniela
    Ionescu:




    Man
    is a social animal. One of its fundamental needs is the sense of belonging, and
    achieving something like that means relating to someone. Self-esteem and
    self-confidence are being built through interaction-based experiences.
    Likewise, compassion, empathy, selflessness, socializing, all that also has its
    crucial contribution to our cognitive and affective development, but also to
    the creation od the mechanisms by means of which we adapt to the world and to
    life, they help us manage stress and anxiety. Social isolation may cause
    illnesses but also our losing the sense of reality. It even causes death,
    sometimes. On the other hand, the exaggerated need to socialize may often
    conceal psychological problems the individual can only contain provided they
    focus on the interaction with the others. Socializing in the presence and
    through food, like the one you have in a restaurant, is based on the memory of
    having received affection, comfort, education, way back when you were
    breastfed. Food is a language through which we convey our intensions, our
    emotions, our ability of relating to the others. Eating in the company of
    others is a type of energy exchange, an act of togetherness, of intimacy. Food
    provides physical nourishing for us; similarly, relationships feed us
    emotionally, and satisfaction is complete when we have both types of food.

  • September 14, 2020

    September 14, 2020

    COVID-19 The Government of Romania is to extend today for the 4th time the state of alert triggered by the COVID 19 pandemic. The National Committee for Emergency Situations is due to make final proposals on the measures to be implemented. The relevant government order will include measures concerning the local elections due on September 27. PM Ludovic Orban said authorities were considering bigger locations for polling stations and outdoor waiting areas, in order to comply with physical distancing requirements. Meanwhile, the Government is looking at easing some restrictions in the forthcoming period. The state of alert was introduced on May 15, after a 2-month state of emergency. The total number of coronavirus infections in Romania is over 104,000, with the death toll standing at 4,185.



    SCHOOLS An atypical school year has begun in Romania today, with special coronavirus protection measures in place. Education is a vital prerequisite for a civilised society, and children are returning to schools with one more lesson to learn—how to take care of ones health and of the health of others, said PM Ludovic Orban in a message on this occasion. He warned that the danger posed by the disease is not over and that the new school year is a challenge for children, their families, teachers and authorities.



    DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu had telephone talks with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, following the political consultations held during his visit to Israel this month. According to the Foreign Ministry, the 2 officials reviewed the preparations for a new joint government meeting due next year. They also looked at the arrangements for the set up of a new expert group preparing the meeting, which will focus on mutually relevant topics like agriculture, water management, IT, cyber security and AI. The talk also occasioned an exchange of opinions on the Middle East peace process. “Romania supports the resolution of this problem based on international law and on the 2-state solution, Israel and Palestine, living next to each other in peace and prosperity, the Romanian foreign minister said. On September 2-3, minister Aurescu discussed with high-level political officials both in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and in Ramallah.



    PANDEMIC Many countries are reintroducing lockdowns in the context of a so-called “second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic. The World Health Organisation Sunday reported nearly 308,000 new infections for the last 24 hours, a new global record, Reuters reports. The most significant increases were in India, the USA and Brazil. The total number of cases worldwide is nearing 29.2 million, and the number of COVID-related deaths is 928,000. Israel reintroduced a 3-week lockdown in a move to contain the new wave. Strict restrictions regarding groups larger than 6 people have come into force in the UK today. And also as of Monday, face masks, already compulsory in supermarkets and public transportation, must be worn in all public buildings and shops in Austria.



    BELARUS The president of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has a meeting in Russia today with his counterpart Vladimir Putin. This is the first meeting of the 2 officials since the start of large-scale anti-presidential protests in Minsk. Russia sent troops to Belarus to take part in joint military exercises. Scheduled to last until September 25, the drills take place amid extensive protests in Belarus following the August presidential election. The ballot was won by Lukashenko, but the opposition claims the election was rigged. Western countries have asked for a new election. On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets once again, across the country, asking for the resignation of Belaruss strongman of 26 years, largely seen as the last dictator in Europe.



    TENNIS The Romanian player Patricia Ţig won the first WTA title in her career on Sunday, in the tournament in Istanbul. She defeated Canadas Eugenie Bouchard, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) in the final, after a dramatic match. For Ţig (26, no 88 WTA), this was the 3rd WTA final, after the ones in Baku (2015) and Bucharest (2019). The Romanian player has also won the 2019 tournament in Karlsruhe. Meanwhile, the Romanian Irina Begu has qualified into the main group of the Rome tournament. She beat the German Anna-Lena Friedsam, 6-1, 6-1 in the qualifying round 2. Simona Halep is also seed no 1 in this tournament. She is to take on the winner of the match pitting Latvian Anastasija Sevastova against the Italian Jasmine Paolini. The Rome tournament begins today.


    (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • The pandemic in stories and images

    The pandemic in stories and images

    Life is a
    sequence of stories, in the long run. More pleasant or more thought-provoking,
    meaningful or dull, stories are similar to one another and are at once
    different from one another, in much the same way as human beings are. Little
    wonder, then that, having to comply with the lock-down, people from all around
    the world were eager to find out what kind of stories their fellow men shared.


    In Oradea, a
    researcher based with the Citadel Museum, having entered into the furlough
    scheme at work, set for herself the task to document the period we have been
    going through. Cristina Liana Puscas holds a Doctor’s degree in history. She
    firmly believes that, over the years, info and images will be needed, as well
    as the account of as wide a range as possible of experiences, shared by the
    people who this year have been facing the pandemic. Accordingly, Cristina Liana
    Puscas has generated some sort of historical research, to a certain extent
    interdisciplinary, as part of the project titled Living a life in the time of
    the pandemic.

    The test was made of 25 questions we have created. We devised a
    questionnaire made of 25 points, which we launched in the public space. We
    mainly wanted to find out how Oradea-born individuals, be they from Bihor or
    living abroad, who were native speakers of Romanian, have perceived this pandemic,
    this incident in the history of humankind. On April 22, 2020, we launched the
    questionnaire, and so far 321 people have filled it in. Of course, not all the
    filled-in questionnaires we have received will be validated, for a number of
    reasons. To me, the interest in that seems great, I believe 200 answers will
    definitely qualify for validation. The questionnaire has been filled in online,
    so it does have a drawback because of that, since those who filled it in had
    access to the Internet, whereas many other people have been left out because
    they couldn’t provide their answers to our questionnaire. So the answering
    category, these people are university-degree respondents who also had access to
    the Internet.

    That is what Cristina Liana Puscas told us. Cristina also
    specified she got answers countrywide, from Bihor, Satu Mare, Sălaj, Cluj,
    Timiş, Arad, Bucharest, but also from New York, Vienna and Hamburg. Cristina
    Liana Puscas also gave us details on the types of questions, and on the
    answers.

    What was the project you had to give up on, the moment you had to enter
    lock-down? Quite a few of them answered they had to renounce their vacation, the
    refurbishment of their homes, a new job or going to a theater show, or going to
    church. Those who stayed to home or worked from home and strictly complied with
    the lock-down, they have been very affected. Yet those who traveled to work,
    they didn’t seem to be frustrated by the lock-down as much as the other people.


    Another
    question sought to find out what people found it most difficult to adapt to, under
    the new lock-down circumstances. Cristina Liana Puscas:


    Respondents seem to have found the lack of socialization as the hardest
    thing to adapt to, they missed their siblings, their friends and even their
    colleagues at work. Lock-down life was very burdensome especially for some of
    the mothers, who told us the roles they were supposed to play were way too
    many: they had to be schoolteachers, mothers, employees working from home,
    wives, sitters, physicians, psychologists, massagists, hair stylists,
    pedagogues, German or English teachers. Also, they found it hard to adapt to
    the new rituals, disinfection, filling in the affidavits, giving up on having a
    walk, on that freedom of movement.


    For most of
    the respondents, their couple lives were the least affected during lock-down,
    even though some of the answers played upon such little jokes as I don’t like
    to have three meals a day, or I just don’t understand why my wife tries to
    organize my own life, or that is so very obvious, we have different
    biological rhythms. Spending time in lock-down turns you towards the inner
    world, so taking that into account, Cristina Liana Puscas devised further questions to cover that situation:

    What were the little
    joys that you discovered during lock-down days ? Some of them knew to make
    the most of that period; they discovered the sun, sipping their coffee,
    cooking, reading, gardening, and their families.

    According to
    an old Chinese proverb, an image is worth a thousand words, so Cristina Liana
    Puscas has concurrently run a project titled Photographs during the pandemic. What did
    she notice about the pictures she received?


    All of them are taken from the window or from home. A window that
    usually looks out on the courtyard outside. A lady sent me a photograph of
    herself with her head shaved during the pandemic lock-down. A gentleman from
    Satu-Mare sent me a photograph of a woman kneeling on the steps of a church.
    All photographs related to home life, very few of them had to do with the outside
    world.

    Such projects are still ongoing, by all means. Optimism favors dreaming of better
    days, yet realism prompts us to reassess what is really important for us. In
    her work, Cristina Liana Puscas told us people did realize nature was very
    important for them, while no less important was having the dearest ones around them.

    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)


  • July 27, 2020 UPDATE

    July 27, 2020 UPDATE

    CORONAVIRUS Romanian authorities announced on Monday that local lockdown is not
    necessary in any of the 12 localities in Arges County, in the south, where the
    number of COVID-19 cases has risen substantially as of late.The number of new coronavirus
    infections in this county has exceeded 100 for the 5th consecutive day. The
    town of Faget and three nearby villages in Timis county, in the western part of
    Romania, are in lockdown for 14 days beginning on Sunday evening. Faget, where
    47 cases were confirmed, is the third locality in Romania to go into lockdown
    after Cartojani in Giurgiu county and Gornet in Prahova county, in the south.
    The number of coronavirus cases in Romania gets close to 46,000, with more than
    1,000 new cases reported on Monday, for the 6th day in a row. More than 25,800
    people have recovered and over 6,900 are in hospital, including 353 in
    intensive care. 19 new deaths were reported on Monday, taking the death toll to
    2,206. A growing number of countries are introducing restrictions for Romanian
    citizens. Cyprus, Finland and Lithuania have closed their borders to Romanian tourists.
    Travelers arriving in Greece from Romania by plane are now required to produce
    a negative Covid-19 test as well. The test must have been conducted no more
    than 72 hours prior. The measure is in place until August 4. Other countries,
    including Italy, the UK, Ireland, Norway, Estonia and Latvia have introduced 14-day
    isolation requirements for travelers from Romania, the Netherlands recommends
    isolation, while Hungary,m Belgium and France recommend testing. New entry
    conditions are also in place for travelers arriving in Austria from Romania. A
    negative Covid-19 test must now be produced that was conducted 72 hours prior
    instead of 4 days prior, and the isolation period has been reduced from 14 to
    10 days. These measures will remain in place at least until the end of September.




    WORKERS The Romanian foreign ministry announced on Monday that 150 Romanian nationals working on a farm in Dingolfing-Landau in south-eastern Germany have tested positive for COVID-19. The farm, which has been placed under lockdown by local authorities, employs nearly 480 people, most of them Romanian citizens. So far Romanias consular office in Munich has not received any requests for consular assistance from the employees of the farm in question, but it stays in contact with local authorities and with the employer, and is ready to provide assistance if necessary.




    UPDATE An updated list of countries of high epidemiological risk is available as of Monday. People coming from these countries to Romania must quarantine for 14 days. The list includes 44 countries and regions considered to be in the yellow area, and is available on the website of the National Public Health Institute. The quarantine location can be at home or at another location chosen by the individuals in question, or at a location decided by the authorities. The list was last updated on July 7.




    PARLIAMENT The Parliament of Romania continues its special session this week. The agenda of the Senate includes a citizen initiative under which convicted criminals are no longer allowed to hold public office. Debates on this topic were postponed twice last week, due to the lack of quorum. The bill has already been endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies. Also discussed in the Senates expert committees will be the issue of the Romanian seasonal works who left for Germany from the International Airport of Cluj Napoca, in spite of the fact that a military order was in place. On Monday the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill under which the date of parliamentary elections must be set by law at least 60 day prior to ballot date. Previously, it was the Government that set the date of parliamentary elections. The bill was also passed by the Senate on the same day.




    UKRAINE A ceasefire backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskiy came into force in Ukraine on Monday. This is the most recent reconciliation attempt in a series of failed peace efforts between government forces and the pro-Russian rebels. Putin expressed concerns over a recent bill in the Ukrainian parliament paving the way for regional elections in 20220, saying it runs counter to the Minsk agreements and puts settlement prospects in jeopardy. Kiev plans to hold regional elections in October all over the country except for the separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Around 13 thousand people have been killed in the conflict, according to UN estimates. Russia has repeatedly denied accusations of direct involvement in the conflict. (Translated by Elena Enache, Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Local lockdown

    Local lockdown

    Romania has seen in recent days around 1,000 new
    coronavirus infections a day from a little over 100 when lockdown restrictions were
    first eased, on the 15th of May. Bucharest and ten other counties have
    the highest number of cases so they may be first to be targeted by stricter
    measures under the new quarantine and isolation law that came into force this
    week. Two localities, one in Giurgiu and another in Prahova, in the southern
    part of the country, are already in lockdown, following a sharp rise in
    infections from 3 cases to 1,000.




    Prime minister Ludovic Orban says local lockdown may be
    imposed at any time based on a justified proposal and with the approval of the
    National Public Health Institute:




    The set of measures imposed in the case of local
    lockdown may differ from one place to another depending on what caused the
    spread of the virus, for example whether it was at a wedding, at a religious
    event, or at the local bar. The measures to reduce the risk of transmission
    will be taken depending on the causes identified during an epidemiological
    investigation. One thing is certain: local lockdown reduces the risk for the
    inhabitants of a place with a high transmission rate to spread the virus
    outside of that area, and this is our main goal. Our second goal is to take
    measures within that specific locality to reduce the risk of sick persons
    infecting others.




    For these reasons, the authorities are keeping a close
    eye on 12 localities in Arges county, in the south, where the average number of
    new cases has passed 100 every day for the past week. The local authorities are
    trying to avoid lockdowns and have stepped up prevention and awareness raising activities
    and checks and have approached the people directly, explaining them the risks.




    In Mioveni, for example, where Renault has a factory
    that manufactures the Dacia cars, the local committee for emergency situations has
    approved measures such as monitoring and conducting checks in shops, on public transport
    and even on the town’s main street to discourage overcrowding. Public spaces,
    including bus stations, are to be disinfected and epidemiological screenings to
    be conducted in all places of work. In month’s time, when the factory reopens
    after the annual overhaul, all indoor and outdoor spaces and surfaces that
    workers come into contact with are also to be disinfected. The Renault group
    has donated to the local hospital Covid-19 testing equipment. (CM)

  • July 22, 2020 UPDATE

    July 22, 2020 UPDATE

    Coronavirus Romania. Romania reports a record 1,030 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and 27 new deaths. The number of confirmed cases thus hits 40,100, while the death toll rises to 2,101. Almost 25,000 people have recovered. A law regulating the conditions for quarantine and isolation came into force on Tuesday, which, according to the health minister Nelu Tataru, lays down the instruments required in order to reduce the number of new cases. The minister warned however that the next two weeks will be difficult, with lots of active cases. As of Wednesday, the village of Cartojani in Giurgiu County in the south is under lockdown, after reporting 32 infections through community spread for a total population of 3,600. Local authorities say epidemiological risks are extremely severe, given that current protection measures are not observed. Another village in Prahova County, also in the south, is under a 2-week lockdown as well, while similar measures are being considered in several localities in Arges County.



    Coronavirus world. Global coronavirus infections near 15.1 million, while the death toll nears 620,000. In his coronavirus press briefing, which he resumed after many weeks of interruption, US president Donald Trump told Americans that the pandemic may get worse before it gets better and urged them to wear face coverings where they cannot maintain physical distance, something he had previously opposed. The US saw more than 600,000 new cases for the 8th day in a row. On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation said it would bring together scientists and experts from various fields as part of a project to combat disinformation, a relatively new threat to public health. In another move, a number of British researchers told the British Parliament that people would have to live with the pandemic for many years, believing it is unlikely for a possible vaccine to eliminate this coronavirus definitively.



    Industry President Klaus Iohannis and a governmental team headed by PM Ludovic Orban Wednesday discussed
    means to correlate the 2 national plans through which Romania will have access to
    nearly 80 billion euro under the European Union’s post-coronavirus economic
    recovery plan. Some of the money may be accessed this year, if the related national plan
    is prepared quickly, as the Cabinet intends, the President explained. Also on Wednesday, but in Craiova, in the south, Iohannis said that the automotive industry is vital for Romania and it
    still has a lot of growth potential. He visited the Ford production unit in
    Craiova, southern Romania, which has resumed its 3-shift working hours, and has
    a production volume comparable to the one before the pandemic. The management
    announced having initiated additional investments of 30 million USD for parts
    and components. The American carmaker has already invested over 1.5 billion
    euro in the plant in Craiova, which employs nearly 6,000 people. Another major
    carmaker operating in Romania is the French company Renault, producing the
    Dacia brand in Pitesti, in the south of the country, and employing over 17,700 workers.



    Deficit. Government deficit grew both in the eurozone and in the European Union in the first quarter of the year compared with the previous quarter, because of the lockdown to contain the spread of the pandemic, according to the latest figures published by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office. In the eurozone, the government deficit grew from 0.7% of GDP in the last quarter of last year to 2.2% in the first quarter of this year. Malta, with 8.5%, Romania, with 7.2%, and Belgium, with 6%, have the highest deficit levels in the European Union.



    Judiciary. The Romanian senators rejected a bill to dismantle the special department to investigate offences in the judiciary. The Save Romania Union, the party that initiated the bill, said the department is criticised by magistrates, European institutions and various organisations in the field, while the Social Democratic Party said it guarantees the independence of the judiciary. The Chamber of Deputies has already rejected the bill, but the Senate was the decision-making body in this case.


    (translated by: CM, Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Weitere Entspannungsmaßnahmen sollen verschoben werden

    Weitere Entspannungsmaßnahmen sollen verschoben werden

    Die von der Regierung in Bukarest konsultierte technisch-wissenschaftliche Gruppe hat die Verschiebung der vierten Stufe der Entspannungsmaßnahmen vorgeschlagen, die ab 1. Juli umgesetzt werden sollte. Der Vorschlag erfolgte vor dem Hintergrund eines alarmierenden Anstiegs der Covid-Infektionen in den vergangenen Tagen, da viele Rumänen die Präventionsvorschriften nicht einhalten. Die Zahl der täglichen Infektionen ist nach wie vor höher als die Zahl der geheilten Patienten, was dazu führt, dass die Krankenhäuser in Rumänien überfüllt sind.




    Auch die Zahl der Patienten, die Intensivpflege benötigen, steigt und damit auch die Zahl der Todesopfer. Der rumänische Gesundheitsminister Nelu Tataru hat in einem Interview mit einem Fernsehsender auf eine ungünstige Entwicklung in den vergangenen zwei Wochen hingewiesen, weshalb die Einführung der neuen Lockerungsmaßnahmen zumindest auf der Ebene der technisch-wissenschaftlichen Gruppe verschoben wurde.




    Nelu Tătaru: Wir haben in den vergangenen zwei Wochen einen Anstieg der Zahl der Infektionen erlebt. In diesen zwei Wochen haben wir eine höhere Zahl von Patienten gesehen, die eine Intensivpflege benötigen, und auch einen Anstieg der Zahl der Todesfälle. Deshalb haben die Experten der Technischen Gruppe empfohlen, die für den 1. Juli geplanten neuen Entspannungsmaßnahmen zu verschieben. Gegenwärtig behandeln wir eine erhöhte Zahl von Infektionen, und auf der Ebene dieser Gruppe wurde beschlossen, diese vierte Entspannungsstufe zu verschieben. Wir beobachten die Situation täglich, jede Woche und jede zweite Woche, und wenn sich die Situation verbessert, werden wir eine weitere Reihe von Entspannungsmaßnahmen in Erwägung ziehen. Und im Falle einer intensiven Ansteckung in der Gemeinschaft erwägen wir, an bestimmten Orten Beschränkungen einzuführen, um Ausbrüche zu isolieren und Quarantänemaßnahmen zu verhängen.




    Eine endgültige Entscheidung zu diesem Thema wird am Mittwoch von der Exekutive in Bukarest erwartet. Es wird auch erwartet, dass die Regierung am Mittwoch zu einem neuen Maßnahmenplan gegen die Ausbreitung der Covid-Pandemie zusammenkommt. Premierminister Ludovic Orban, der sagte, dass die jüngsten Entwicklungen zur Vorsicht mahnen, hat die Minister und andere hohe Beamte des Innenministeriums, der Gesundheitsminister sowie der Polizei und anderer staatlicher Institutionen mit Kontrollbefugnissen zusammengerufen.




    In einer anderen Entwicklung hat das Nationale Komitee für Notfallsituationen bereits entschieden, dass Veranstaltern, die sich nicht an die Präventionsvorschriften halten, die Lizenz entzogen wird. Die Epidemiologen haben ihrerseits darauf hingewiesen, dass die Zahl der Fälle weiter steigen kann, wenn die Präventionsmaßnahmen nicht eingehalten werden. Rumänien hat bisher über 26.500 Covid-Infektionen bestätigt. Suceava im Nordosten Rumäniens rangiert bei der Zahl der Fälle an erster Stelle, gefolgt von Bukarest und Brasov, im Zentrum des Landes. Ungefähr 19.000 Menschen wurden für geheilt erklärt und durften die Krankenhäuser verlassen, während über 1600 Menschen starben.

  • June 18, 2020 UPDATE

    June 18, 2020 UPDATE

    CONFERENCE Romanian
    president Klaus Iohannis on Thursday attended a high-level videoconference on
    the Eastern Partnership. The Romanian official reiterated Romania’s commitment
    to supporting the European prospects of the most committed eastern partners in
    accordance with their own progress. He also voiced Bucharest’s support for a
    more ambitious EU approach to security cooperation in order to respond to the
    legitimate interests of the EU and the partner states in the region. Also high
    on the agenda was the management of the common challenges caused by
    misinformation and the stepped up hybrid actions. Iohannis highlighted the
    consistent support Romania offered to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in
    their efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was attended by heads of state and government from the EU27
    in addition to the six partner states in the region: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
    Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. On Friday the Romanian
    president is expected to attend the European Council meeting, also held in
    videoconference format. The agenda will include the Economic Recovery Plan and
    the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework recently proposed by the European
    Commission, the negotiation process for the future relations between the
    European Union and Great Britain, as well as foreign policy topics.








    DRAFT Parliament in Bucharest on Thursday approved a draft law on taxing
    the so-called special pensions, endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies on
    Wednesday. A vote from the Legislature was needed as the law is also referring
    to the pensions of the MPs and senators. Romanian deputies decided to
    levy a tax on the difference between the special pension and the regular
    contribution-based pension. Therefore a 10% tax will be levied on pensions ranging
    between €400 and €1.450, while any pension above this mark will be subject to an
    85% tax. The Ombudsman has already challenged the law at the Constitutional
    Court and the High Court of Cassation and Justice is expected to follow suit.






    TROOPS 2669 servicemen from Romania
    will be involved this year in various peacekeeping missions and operations
    outside its territory. These troops are getting ready and deployable upon NATO
    and EU orders. 791 officers and NCs are also ready for missions and operations outside
    Romania and over one thousand more could be made available, Romanian president
    Klaus Iohannis has told Parliament in a briefing. According to the document presented
    by the president, Romanian troops are carrying out missions assumed as part of the
    country’s obligations as a security provider. Troops from Romania are involved
    in peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations under NATO, the EU, the UN
    and the OSCE approval.










    COVID-19 – The
    number of confirmed Covid-19 infections continues to rise in Romania. Another
    320 cases have been reported since the last update, taking the total number of
    infected to 23.080. Over 16.300 people have recovered and 1.473 have died. 178
    patients are now in intensive care. According to Health Minister Nelu Tataru,
    the rise in the number of cases is the result of several measures aimed at
    easing lockdown restrictions. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban
    said theatres and restaurants in Romania will be reopened whenever the
    epidemiological context allows it. Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said that, for
    the time being, the authorities don’t know how the situation will evolve, and
    has called on everyone to remain vigilant and strictly observe the regulations.










    (translated by bill)

  • State of alert to be extended in Romania

    State of alert to be extended in Romania

    The
    government in Bucharest has decided to extend the state of alert for 30 more
    days. However, it is for Parliament to take the final decision on that.


    The
    COVID-19 outbreak in Romania resulted in a two-month state of emergency and
    another period of time when the state of alert has been officially ruled
    throughout the country. Immediately afterwards, the Government in Bucharest has
    decided to keep part of the restrictions in place and lift other restrictions,
    beginning June17, for another 30 days. In other words, quite unlike their
    fellow citizens across the European Union, all Romanians will still have to
    wait before they can return to the life they had before the COVID-19 outbreak,
    a life free of any kind of restriction! The State Secretary with the Interior
    Ministry Raed Arafat has made public the reasons why such a decision has been
    taken by the Government.

    Raed Arafat:


    We may have a downward curb of the outbreak, yet there are nonetheless
    signs the situation may get worse any time and we may have at least serious hotbeds or even a more difficult situation,
    unless compensatory measures are complied with, which have already been made public,
    that is the wearing of protection masks, maintaining the physical distance, the
    epidemiological screening in enclosed areas, wearing protection masks while on
    public transport means..

    To put
    it differently, the wearing of protection masks in enclosed areas remains
    mandatory, and so are the frequent hygiene of the hands and maintaining the
    physical distance. However, workout is resumed in gym halls, with the required
    sanitary precautions in place. Shops in malls will be opened, but cinema
    theaters and children’s playgrounds stay closed. Indoor divine services are
    allowed, provided churchgoers have their protection mask on and physical
    distance is observed. No more than 20 participants are allowed to take part in
    indoor private events, while no more than 50 people will take part in such
    events outdoors. Opened again will be the bookmakers’ and the gambling areas.
    Also, a list will be published every week, including the destination countries
    for which flights will be resumed and the foreign countries Romanian citizens
    may come from, without being placed in lock-down any longer. The law stipulates
    that, under the circumstances, it is for Parliament to finally rule on the
    decisions taken by the Government. The opposition Social Democratic Party, the
    most numerous political group in Parliament, has already made public the fact
    that they would not vote the extension of the state of alert for 30 days, but
    only for 15 days. Moreover, the Social Democrats want the bill to be voted into
    law by Parliament to clearly stipulate hospitals must treat patients suffering
    from chronic diseases. We recall that many such patients had a lot to suffer from and some of them even lost their lives since in the past three months the
    activity has been drastically restricted in non-Covid hospitals throughout the
    country. The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, took a
    broadside at Liberal Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, because of the latter’s
    flawed communication with the Parliament.

    Marcel Ciolacu:


    I don’t understand why Mr. Orban did not join us for specific talks on
    the issue. There are several European models available, it’s not for us to
    reinvent the wheel. Local administrations may be allowed to take the liberty to
    implement such models. We only create the legislative framework and afterwards,
    the authorities can adjust their measures in keeping with the number of cases
    and the situation reported for every county.


    There
    is an official five-day time span for Parliament to give its consent or turn
    down the Government’s suggestion to extend the sate of alert throughout the
    country for another 30 days.

    ( Translation by Eugen Nasta)



  • Totale Lockerung kommt nicht in Frage

    Totale Lockerung kommt nicht in Frage

    In Bukarest hat der Chef des Notfalldezernats Raed Arafat nachdrücklich betont, dass eine totale Aufhebung der Präventionsma‎ßnahmen im Zusammenhang mit C19 nicht in Frage komme, da kein konstanter Rückgang neuer Erkrankungen festzustellen ist. In einem Interview im staatlichen Fernsehen wies er darauf hin, dass es noch Seuchenherde in mehreren Landesteilen gibt.: “Wer sagt, dass wir alles hinter uns haben und alles OK ist, hat die falschen Informationen. Im Moment haben wir die Lage zwar besser unter Kontrolle als bisher, aber wir können nicht behaupten, dass wir an dem Punkt sind, wo alles in Ordnung ist und es keine Personen gibt, die sich in der Gemeinschaft anstecken. Es gibt also noch Seuchenherde, zum Beispiel in Seniorenheimen, oder in Industriegebieten, oder auch in Krankenhäusern. Die Fallzahlen sind noch nicht stabil,” sagt der Notfallarzt.



    Laut Arafat müsse man in den nächsten 5-6 Tagen die Auswirkungen der Lockdown-Lockerungen vom 1. Juni im Auge behalten — je nachdem, wie sich die Lage entwickelt, müsse man neue Entscheidungen treffen. Eine Verlängerung des gegenwärtigen Warnzustands wäre eine natürliche Vorgangsweise, denn aus dieser Situation könne man schnell Ma‎ßnahmen treffen. Auch wenn alles total gelockert wird, würde er persönlich nicht ins Kino oder ins Theater gehen, da er die Risiken kennt, meinte Arafat. Wir können nach dem 15. Juni nicht zur Normalität von früher zurückkehren, befand der Arzt.



    Ihm zufolge habe man in Rumänien nicht strengere Verbote als andernorts durchgesetzt, die Ma‎ßnahmen allerdings früher getroffen. Zu den Reisebeschränkungen meinte er, dass die Menschen sich auf das eigene Land besinnen sollten. Glücklicherweise haben wir hier auch Meer und Berge und sehr viele Reisemöglichkeiten, sagte Arafat im Fernsehen. In der Tat strömten die Menschen anlässlich des langen Pfingstwochenendes in die seit Monaten leergefegten Ferienorte am Schwarzen Meer und im Gebirge. Über 15.000 Touristen zog es an die Riviera, wobei die Schätzungen der Reiseveranstalter übertroffen wurden. Die etwa 100 offenen Hotels waren vom Ansturm überrascht. Doch auch so war die Zahl um ein Vierfaches geringer als der normale Pfingstbetrieb vom letzten Jahr. Tausende entschieden sich für einen Kurzurlaub im Gebirge- im Prahovatal wurd eine Schipiste eingerichtet, die Menschen unternahmen Wanderungen, fittere waren auf Mountain Bikes unterwegs. Nicht zuletzt sorgte das Wetter für gute Ferienlaune.

  • Rumänien öffnet am 1. Juni Terassen und Strände

    Rumänien öffnet am 1. Juni Terassen und Strände

    Die Zahl der Corona-Todesfälle in Rumänien liegt bei über 1.200 und in den letzten drei Monaten seit der Meldung des ersten Falls einer Coronavirusinfektion auf dem rumänischen Staatsgebiet wurden insgesamt etwa 19.000 Fälle von COVID-19-Kontamination bestätigt. Nun wird Rumänien in eine neue Phase der Lockerung der Beschränkungen eintreten. Die Ma‎ßnahmen, die am 15. März in ganz Rumänien eingeführt wurden, um die Ausbreitung des Virus einzudämmen, sind bereits vor zwei Wochen teilweise gelockert worden, als der Notstand durch den Warnzustand ersetzt wurde. Ab dem 15. Mai brauchten die Rumänen keine Selbsterklärungen mehr, um ihre Häuser zu verlassen und in ihren Heimatgemeinden oder Ballungsgebieten zu reisen. Parks und Museen wurden wieder eröffnet, so dass die Menschen allmählich zu einer normalen Sozialisierung zurückkehrten.




    Die Behörden haben die Situation der vergangenen zwei Wochen des Warnzustands analysiert und sind zu dem Schluss gekommen, dass in Rumänien ab dem 1. Juni weitere Entspannungsma‎ßnahmen ergriffen werden können. Zu den neuen Entspannungsma‎ßnahmen gehören die Eröffnung von Café- und Restaurantterassen, von Stränden und die Organisation von Freiluftaufführungen mit bis zu 500 Zuschauern. Sportwettkämpfe, die keinen direkten Kontakt zwischen den Athleten erfordern, werden wieder aufgenommen, ebenso wie der internationale Stra‎ßen- und Schienenverkehr. Die Menschen werden auch au‎ßerhalb ihrer Heimatstädte oder ihres Ballungsgebietes ohne Einschränkungen reisen dürfen, kündigte Premierminister Ludovic Orban an. Er wies auch auf die Bedingungen hin, die eingehalten werden müssen:




    “Es ist erlaubt, Lebensmittel, Getränke und alkoholische Getränke an besonderen Orten au‎ßerhalb von Gebäuden im Freien zuzubereiten, zu verkaufen und zu konsumieren, wobei ein Abstand von mindestens 2 Metern zwischen den Tischen einzuhalten ist und höchstens 4 Personen an einem Tisch sitzen dürfen, wenn diese Personen nicht aus derselben Familie stammen. Ab dem 1. Juni können die Menschen auch an den Strand gehen, wobei die Strandverwalter dafür sorgen müssen, dass jede Person Sonnenliegen hat. Es muss ein Mindestabstand von 2 Metern zwischen Sonnenliegen, die von verschiedenen Familien benutzt werden, gewährleistet sein”.




    Obwohl einige der Beschränkungen aufgehoben werden, mahnt Präsident Klaus Iohannis jedoch zur Vorsicht:



    “Wir können nicht sagen, dass die Epidemie deutlich zurückgegangen ist. Seien Sie deshalb bitte weiterhin sehr vorsichtig! Ich wiederhole, liebe Rumänen, liebe Jugendliche, liebe Studenten, liebe Kinder, es wird uns gelingen, diese Pandemie zu überwinden, wenn wir uns an die Regeln der sozialen Distanzierung halten, wenn wir in geschlossenen Räumen Masken tragen und wenn wir uns so oft wie möglich die Hände waschen.”




    Die Entwicklung der Pandemie mit fast 200 neuen Kontaminationen, die täglich gemeldet werden, zeigt, dass wir weiterhin auf Hygiene- und Präventionsregeln achten müssen, denn es gibt immer noch viele Fälle von Infektionen und Menschen auf Intensivstationen, fügte Präsident Iohnnis auch hinzu.

  • Nach dem Notstand wird in Rumänien der Warnzustand eingeführt

    Nach dem Notstand wird in Rumänien der Warnzustand eingeführt

    Nach einem zweimonatigen Notstand, der aufgrund der Coronavirus-Pandemie verhängt wurde, folgt in Rumänien der Warnzustand mit der Lockerung der restriktiven Maßnahmen. Bukarest folgt damit dem Beispiel der europäischen Staaten, von denen die meisten bereits zu einer schrittweisen Lockerung der Maßnahmen zur Infektionsbekämpfung übergegangen sind.



    Der Notstand, der am 16. März für einen Monat verhängt und dann um weitere 30 Tage verlängert worden war, erforderte die Anwendung von Maßnahmen in den Bereichen Handel und Dienstleistungen, Gesundheit, Arbeitsbeziehungen oder religiöse Aktivitäten, aber auch die Einführung eines Systems von Geldstrafen. Während dieser Zeit wurden in all diesen Bereichen 12 Militärverordnungen erlassen. Das Verhängen des Notsstands auf rumänischem Territorium erfolgte nur wenige Tage nach der Ausrufung der Coronavirus-Pandemie durch die Weltgesundheitsorganisation.



    In einigen Tagen beginnt in Rumänien die schrittweise Lockdown-Lockerung – der Notstand wird zunächst mit einem Warnzustand ersetzt. Während des Warnzustands bleiben in Rumänien die meisten Restriktionen in Kraft, und im Gegensatz zu anderen Ländern wird der Schulunterricht nicht wieder aufgenommen. Restaurants, Bars und Cafes bleiben geschlossen, und auch Reisen außerhalb der Ortschaften sind eingeschränkt. Die Parks werden aber geöffnet und innerhalb der Ortschaften wird auf die Erklärung auf eigene Verantwortung verzichtet. In geschlossenen Räumen wird das Tragen von Mund-Nase-Schutzmasken obligatorisch.



    Die endgültige Form des Gesetzes über den Warnzustand, der ab 15. Mai den Notstand ersetzen soll, wurde am Mittwoch von der Abgeordnetenkammer von Bukarest als Entscheidungsgremium verabschiedet, wobei einige Änderungen gegenüber der Form des vom Senat verabschiedeten Dokuments vorgenommen wurden. Dazu gehören die Wiedereinführung von Verkehrsbeschränkungen, die ursprünglich von den Senatoren aufgehoben worden waren, die Möglichkeit der Öffnung von Terrassen, unter Einhaltung der sanitären Maßnahmen und der sozialen Distanz, sowie die Öffnung von Einkaufszentren mit einer Fläche von weniger als 15.000 Quadratmetern. Was die Geldstrafen für die Nichteinhaltung der von den Behörden verhängten Maßnahmen betrifft, so werden diese 15.000 Lei (etwa 3.000 Euro) nicht überschreiten können. Laut Gesetzentwurf kann der Warnzustand höchstens 30 Tage bestehen; das Gesetz muss noch vom Parlament gebilligt werden.



    Bisher wurden in Rumänien mehr als 1.000 Todesfälle infolge von Covid-19-Erkrankungen registriert und über 16.000 Menschen haben sich mit dem neuen Coronavirus infiziert, so die neuesten Daten der Gruppe für strategische Kommunikation. Die gute Nachricht im Moment ist, dass etwa 50% der Infizierten wieder gesund sind. Seit mehr als zwei Wochen blieb die Zahl der aktiven Fälle von Coronavirus-Infizierungen in Rumänien auf etwa 7.300 bis 7.500 begrenzt. Darüber hinaus näherte sich die durchschnittliche Zahl der geheilten Patienten an gewissen Tagen an die Zahl der täglich neu gemeldeten Fälle an oder überstieg sie sogar.

  • 11 May 2020, UPDATE

    11 May 2020, UPDATE

    Coronavirus Romania. Coronavirus
    Romania. The death toll rose to 982 in Romania on Monday, while infections pass
    15,500. More than 7,200 people have recovered. Among the Romanians living
    abroad, over 2,750 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, mostly in
    Italy and Spain, and 100 of them have died since the start of the pandemic. In
    other related news, Romania’s Liberal government on Monday sent a bill to
    Parliament stipulating the measures to protect the population for the duration
    of the state of alert, which comes into force on 15th May, when the
    state of emergency ends. Also on Monday, the interior minister Marcel Vela said
    flights to and from Spain are still suspended until 14th May and
    that the southern town of Tandarei is no longer in quarantine.




    Coronavirus world. Over four million confirmed
    coronavirus cases have been reported worldwide, while almost 300,000 people
    have died. The United States is still the worst hit country, with more than a
    quarter of all infections and a third of all deaths. Experts warn that the real
    number of infections is probably much higher because the testing rate is low in
    many countries. The daily death toll continues to drop in some states, but
    there are worries about a second wave of infections. In addition, governments
    are bracing for economic decline, as the pandemic has affected global markets
    and supply chains. Restrictions are meanwhile being eased in many European
    countries, with some shops and primary schools reopening, while restaurants,
    theatres and cinemas remaining closed. In Spain, restrictions are not being
    lifted in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona which had high infection rates.




    Motion. The Chamber of Deputies is discussing a simple motion tabled by
    the Social Democrats in opposition, who demand the resignation of the finance
    minister Florin Citu. They say that in the six months of government and during the
    state of emergency no measure has been taken to avoid an economic disaster and that
    the finance minister has been unable to come up with efficient measures to
    support businesses. The vote on the motion is due on Wednesday. The healthcare
    minister Nelu Tataru presented deputies with the measures taken to curb the
    coronavirus outbreak. He said the healthcare system, which has had problems for
    years, had to adjust quickly to tackle the crisis. The biggest problems were
    the lack of protection equipment, a shortage of staff and underfunding, the
    minister also said. He explained that at first Romania had only one PCR testing
    device and now has 75, being able to carry out around 11,000 tests a day.
    Romania has begun to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections, but the
    population still needs to show responsibility, the health minister also said.




    Deficit. Romania
    recorded a trade deficit of 4.46 billion euros in the first quarter of the
    year, 732.4 million euros more than in same period last year, the National
    Statistics Institute announced on Monday. Also, in the first three months of the
    year exports amounted to 17.07 billion euros, down 2.6%, and imports to 21.526
    billion euros, up 1.3% compared with the first quarter of last year. In March
    this year, Romania’s exports dropped by nearly 700 million euros, to 5.4
    billion euros, compared with March last year. Total trade within the European
    Union between January and March this year amounted to 12.34 billion euros in
    exports and 15.83 billion euros in imports.








    Hearings. The labour minister Violeta Alexandru and
    the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu on Monday appeared before the joint
    committees of the Romanian Senate to answer questions about the protection of
    Romanian workers who left abroad during the pandemic. Minister Alexandru said
    many of these workers did not sign contracts with job placement firms and
    preferred instead direct contracts with companies from the respective
    countries. She added that around 35,000 people left to work abroad during this
    period and that the official figures do not match the worrying situation
    presented by the media. The foreign minister also explained that his ministry
    is conducting an inquiry and will address certain aspects relating to the issue
    of Romanian seasonal workers.


    Ports. 20.5 million tonnes of goods were handled in
    the Romanian Black Sea ports of Constanta, Midia and Mangalia in the first four
    months of the year, up 3.31% compared with the same period last year. Activity
    is within normal parameters for all flows of goods, said the National Maritime
    Port Management Company in Constanta. Cereals saw a dramatic increase by almost
    50% compared with the same period last year. Other increases were recorded by
    fertilisers, chemical substances, raw and processed minerals, equipment and
    cars. Iron ore dropped by 31% and oil products by 23%. The Romanian ports
    handled 4,450 ships in the first four months of the year compared with 4,152 in
    the same period last year.

  • May 7, 2020

    May 7, 2020

    COVID-19 Another 12 people died in Romania from the novel coronavirus, taking the death toll to 876, the Strategic Communication Group announced on Thursday. One of the victims is a Bulgarian truck driver, the first foreign citizen to die from COVID-19 in Romania. The total number of confirmed cases is drawing close to 14,500, of whom over 6,100 have recovered. Another 2,419 Romanian citizens living abroad have tested positive for the virus, most of them in Italy and Spain. Since the start of the pandemic, 96 Romanians living abroad have died, many of them in the UK. Meanwhile, the Romanian interior minister Marcel Vela announced, in a video posted on social media, that after May 15, when the state of emergency ends, people will be allowed to travel outside their home locality or county. Prosecutor General Gabriela Scutea said the Romanian justice system will be facing a huge wave of complaints filed by the people who received fines for breaching the military orders issued in the context of the pandemic. On Wednesday the Constitutional Court ruled that the fines were unconstitutional. As many as 300,000 people received fines totalling around 120 million euros.




    PANDEMIC We are running the risk of returning to lockdowns if restrictions are lifted too soon, warned the head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Ghebreyesus, insisting that the lifting should be gradual, special attention should be paid to serious cases and that the healthcare system must be prepared. At present the total number of COVID-19 cases worldwide is nearing 3.8 million, with the death toll exceeding 265,000, and with 1.3 million patients having recovered, according to Worldometer. The worst hit country in the world is the USA, where over 2,000 deaths were once again reported in 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 75,000. The US president Donald Trump said the coronavirus has been a worse attack on the US than Pearl Harbour and 9/11. In Europe, the UK reports over 30,000 deaths and is the worst hit country on the continent, followed by Italy, Spain and France. Spains parliament extended the state of emergency by another 2 weeks, starting on Sunday.




    AID Today, a convoy of 20 trucks full of medical equipment as part of aid provided by Romania to the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, to help it fight the Covid-19 epidemic, is reaching its destination. The convoy is accompanied by an official delegation including the health minister Nelu Tătaru, the head of the Emergency Situations Department Raed Arafat, and the secretary of state on relations with the Republic of Moldova Ana Guţu. Last week, the government in Bucharest decided to grant Moldova humanitarian aid worth 16.5 million lei in the form of medical equipment and medicines. Romania has also sent a team of 52 doctors and nurses who will be working in hospitals in Moldova treating patients infected with the novel coronavirus.




    EU – Western Balkans The EU is experiencing a crisis, but it will not forsake its strategic goals and its closest partners, said the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis attending a video conference of EU and Western Balkans leaders. According to the Presidency, Iohannis welcomed the strategic decisions taken by the EU in March 2020 with respect to furthering the enlargement process, by initiating accession negotiations with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. The Romanian official also pleaded for a strengthened partnership with the Western Balkans, as the best response to the ongoing crisis, and as a means of consolidating fundamental values and democratic principles. Participants in the summit adopted the Zagreb Declaration, concerning, among others, an economic aid package granted by the EU to support Western Balkans states in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and in post-crisis recovery. This includes immediate aid in the healthcare sector, particularly through delivering medical equipment, as well as a 750 million euro package of Macro-Financial Assistance and a 1.7 billion euro package of assistance from the European Investment Bank.




    SPORTS Romanian football celebrates today 34 years since the Bucharest club Steaua won the European Cup final. On May 7, 1986, in Seville, Spain, the team comprising Romanian footballers exclusively defeated the famous FC Barcelona in the final, in a penalty shoot-out. Steauas goalkeeper, Helmuth Duckadam, saved all the 4 spot-kicks by the Spanish opponents. In February 1987, in Monte Carlo, Steaua also won the European Super Cup, outplaying the Soviet side Dinamo Kyiv 1-0. Two of the participants in this unique performance in Romanian football, midfielder Lucian Bălan and defender Ilie Bărbulescu, died in recent years.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Die Woche 27.03.–01.05.2020 im Überblick

    Die Woche 27.03.–01.05.2020 im Überblick

    Neue Militärverordnung zum stufenweise Ausstieg aus dem Lockdown



    Der Ausstieg aus dem Lockdown wird beginnend mit dem 15. Mai schrittweise erfolgen, kündigte Innenminister Marcel Vela an. Er teilte am Montag die jüngsten Entscheidungen der Behörden in Bukarest im Zusammenhang mit der Covid-19-Pandemie mit. In einer neuen Militärverordnung, der mittlerweile 10., beziehen sich die Ma‎ßnahmen hauptsächlich auf Menschen über 65 Jahre, die vorsorglich bisher nur zwei Stunden ihre Wohnung verlassen durften. Sie konnten nur zwischen 11 und 13 Uhr zum Einkaufen, oder und Dringliches zu erledigen, nach Drau‎ßen gehen. Von nun an dürfen sie von 7–11 Uhr und von 19–22 Uhr das Haus verlassen. Die Gründe sind die gleichen geblieben: Zum Einkaufen, um die Grundbedürfnisse von Menschen und Haustieren zu decken; um aus gerechtfertigten Gründen einen Minderjährigen zu begleiten oder zu pflegen, Kranken- oder Behindertenpflege, im Falle des Todes eines Familienmitglieds; kurze Aufenthalte in der Nähe des Hauses/Haushalts, die sich auf individuelle körperliche Aktivität beziehen sowie für die Bedürfnisse der Haustiere. Der Innenminister kündigte ebenfalls die Verlängerung bis zum 15. Mai des Flugverbots von und nach 13 Staaten an.



    Die Aussetzung von Flügen nach Spanien und von Spanien musste ab dem 28. April um einen Zeitraum von 14 Tagen verlängert werden, da die bisherige Frist Anfang der Woche ablief, sagte der Minister und merkte an, dass die Aussetzung von Flügen nach Österreich, Belgien, der Schweiz, den Vereinigten Staaten, dem Vereinigten Königreich Gro‎ßbritannien und Nordirland, den Niederlanden, der Türkei und dem Iran, Italien, Frankreich und Deutschland bis einschlie‎ßlich zum 14. Mai verlängert wird.




    Ma‎ßnahmen zur Wiederankurbelung der rumänischen Wirtschaft




    Entscheidungsträger in Bukarest ergreifen Ma‎ßnahmen zur Wiederbelebung der von der Coronavirus-Pandemie betroffenen Wirtschaft. Ein neu ins Leben gerufenes Förderprogramm soll die kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen in Rumänien unterstützen. Für die KMU, die von dieser durch die Coronavirus-Pandemie hervorgerufenen Situation erheblich betroffen sind, wurde unter anderem das Programm IMM Invest konzipiert, das durch den Zugang zu staatlich garantierter Finanzierung Liquidität für laufende Geschäfte oder Investitionen bereitstellen soll.



    Ursprünglich am 17. April gestartet, aber genau zum Zeitpunkt der Eröffnung blockiert — nachdem das entsprechende Online-Portal Hunderttausende von Zugriffen pro Minute registriert hatte –, wurde die Anwendung des Programms IMM Invest Romania am 28. April in Betrieb genommen, wobei die Website vom Sondertelekommunikationsdienst betrieben wird. Von der ersten Stunde an bewarben sich fast 20.000 Unternehmer auf der Online-Plattform. Die Finanzierungskosten werden zu 100% vom Staat subventioniert, und die Beträge, die beantragt werden können, sind beträchtlich. Die Unternehmer können sich bis Ende des Jahres und bis zur Ausschöpfung der zugewiesenen Obergrenze von 15 Milliarden Lei (ca. 3 Milliarden Euro) bewerben. Das Programm wird von allen Parlamentsfraktionen unterstützt. Die Dringlichkeitsverordnung, die den Betrieb des Programms IMM Invest regelt, wurde am Dienstag im Senat als Oberkammer ohne wesentliche Änderungen verabschiedet.




    Schulunterricht wird erst im September wieder aufgenommen



    Die im März geschlossenen Bildungseinrichtungen sollen erst im September wieder öffnen — das haben die Behörden vor dem Hintergrund der Pandemie beschlossen. Am Montag erklärte Präsident Klaus Iohannis, dass Schulen, Kindergärten und Unis vorerst geschlossen bleiben und erst im September zu Beginn des neuen Schuljahrs öffnen werden. Sie bieten bis zu dem Zeitpunkt weiter Fernunterricht per Internet an. Das Bildungsministerium teilte mit, dass Schüler und auch Lehrer, die keinen Zugang zur nötigen Technik haben, von den Schulen und Schulämtern unterstützt werden — ihnen soll Lernmaterial ausgegeben werden. Ressortchefin Monica Anisie sagte, dass die bisherige Leistung der Schüler als Mittel von mindestens zwei Zensuren oder Bewertungen berechnet werde — zudem werden keine Klassenarbeiten mehr geschrieben und der nicht durchgenommene Stoff wird später nachgeholt.




    Extreme Dürre im Sommer erwartet



    Rumänien steht vor einer schweren Dürre. Einige Experten befürchten, diese könnte noch schlimmer werden als die gro‎ße Dürre im Jahr 1947. Im Jahr 2015 wurde in Rumänien ein breitangelegtes Programm zur Sanierung des alten Bewässerungssystems in Angriff genommen, mit dem innerhalb von fünf Jahren, d.h. bis Ende 2020, eine bewässerbare Fläche von etwa zwei Millionen Hektar erreicht werden sollte. In Wirklichkeit können derzeit nur etwa 850.000 Hektar bewässert werden. Das Programm wurde um weitere zwei Jahren verlängert. Grundsätzlich können 10% der landwirtschaftlichen Nutzfläche des Landes bewässert werden, die Landwirte stellten jedoch Anträge für lediglich etwa 100.000 Hektar, erklärte Landwirtschaftsminister Adrian Oros.



    Die Situation ist dramatisch, denn obwohl Rumänien für fruchtbare Felder und ertragreiche Ernten bekannt ist, hängt die rumänische Landwirtschaft immer noch stark von den Wetterbedingungen ab. In den letzten Monaten hat es aber fast gar nicht geregnet. Der Schnee, der im letzten Winter fiel, ist nicht der Rede wert. Minister Adrian Oros spricht von einer historischen, starken und extremen Dürre, wie wir sie in den letzten Jahrzehnten nicht gehabt haben. Besonders schlimm ist die Lage in der Dobrudscha, in der Bărăgan-Ebene und in der Moldau, d.h. im Südosten, Süden und Osten des Landes.



    Nach Angaben des Landwirtschaftsministeriums sind bereits drei Millionen Hektar Anbaufläche gefährdet, am stärksten betroffen sind Raps, Gerste, Weizen und Roggen. Viele Landwirte warnen, dass wir im Herbst mehr für Brot bezahlen werden müssen. Die Behörden halten dagegen, dass es für solche Annahmen zu früh sei. In einem Interview mit einem privaten Fernsehsender beschwichtigte Minister Adrian Oros, dass der Inlandskonsum selbst bei einer Halbierung der Produktion gewährleistet sei.