Radio România Internațional

Tag: measures

Severe contraction of the Romanian economy

International experts warn about a global recession in the context of the coronavirus pandemic if countries do not take the necessary measures to combat the crisis. The Romanian economy has already contracted by 30-40% due to the current crisis, the economy minister Virgil Popescu has estimated.

In an interview to Radio Romania, the economy minister said that the car sector, tourism, transports and the hospitality industry have been the most affected by the restrictions imposed by the authorities. But, the government is preparing new measures and instruments to support the business environment, among which direct financial aid worth 750 million Euros for SMEs.

Virgil Popescu: “The package of measures will be tailored in such a way to re-launch the economy and to get back to the situation we were in at the beginning of the crisis, and not to compensate for the losses incurred. We want to re-start the economy gradually and return to the situation we had before the crisis. I also believe that it is very important to think of what we’ll do after the crisis, and especially of what we’ll do from a strategic point of view in Romania, on medium and long terms. Once the crisis is overcome, we need to think about the future of the Romanian economy, because, in my opinion, which is similar to that of the other colleagues in the government, nothing will be the same as before.”

As regards the situation of the Romanian economy in an international context, minister Virgil Popescu said: “We have to try to ‘take advantage’ of this pandemic, so to say. I believe that very many industries outside Europe will be relocated in the European zone, and I think that we should not miss this opportunity and be prepared to be able to receive new industries, new investments in Romania, which will obviously create new expectations for Romanians and for the Romanian employees.”

Studies conducted by international experts on the impact of the current sanitary crisis on the Romanian economy show a risk of entering a period of recession and of losing the race to the advantage of regional competitors. An analysis of the Businesses Development Consulting Agency shows that the Romanian economy risks collapsing if the authorities delay working out concrete solutions to the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The analysis shows that the economic effects of the crisis are intensifying, which will leave more than 2 million people without jobs, thus causing a severe recession.

At the same time, Romania risks losing the race for competitiveness to several states in the region such as Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria. So far, more than 215,000 people have lost their jobs in Romania and more than a million are in technical unemployment, according to figures provided by the Labor Ministry. (tr. L. Simion)

14 April 2020
The state of emergency to be extended

The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced that the state of emergency declared on March 16 to fight the spread of the new coronavirus will be extended by another month. As compared to other countries, the number of people infected with the new virus in Romania has not been very high so far, said President Iohannis who, nevertheless, warned the population not to relax yet and urged them to continue observing the social distancing measures imposed by the authorities, given that the peak of the pandemic has not been reached yet.

Klaus Iohannis: “Following a thorough analysis, we have concluded that we need to extend the state of emergency. Therefore, I have called on the Government to come up with proposals that should be included in the next decree. This week we will draft the text and early next week I will issue a new decree that extends the state of emergency by one month. This extension is absolutely necessary to control the evolution of the pandemic.

In relation to protective equipment, the president has announced that a new transport of face masks and hazmat suits for the medical staff will arrive in Romania this week.

Klaus Iohannis: “Everyone knows that it has been a little complicated to purchase protective equipment: masks, hazmat suits, and ventilators. The measures taken by the government have now produced the first significant results. This week well receive 2.5 million face masks for the medical staff, almost 5 million masks for the gendarmes and police and as many as 8 million masks for the population. Also, in the coming days we are waiting for almost 500 thousand hazmat suits for physicians and other medical staff.

Furthermore, the Romanian government has approved bonuses for the entire medical staff that gets in contact with patients infected with Covid-19. 75 thousand physicians, auxiliary staff, ambulance workers and paramedics that treat such patients will receive 2,500 lei, that is a little more than 500 Euros per month. Only the income tax of 10% will be levied on the sum, the other contributions not being deducted.

At the same time, one thousand social and community workers will receive 2 thousand lei (around 400 Euros) per month to take care of people isolated in their homes, lonely people or old people over 65. The money, a total of 810 million Euros, comes from European funds, which will be used to also cover entirely for all the purchases of medical equipment.

In another development, on Monday, the Romanian government discussed the first budget adjustment for 2020. The finance minister Florin Citu has announced that most of the money will be channeled to the health and labor ministries. (translation by L. Simion)

7 April 2020
New restrictions and requests

Around 4 months since the new coronavirus was first reported in Chinas Wuhan city, the toll is growing ever more disquieting at global level, and Europe and the USA are now the regions with the largest number of cases, and implicitly, the regions where the virus has killed the most.

In Romania, experts expect the pandemic to peak at some point in mid-April. Bucharest has announced measures to contain the spreading of the virus, but the number of cases is growing by the day. Ţăndărei, in the south-east of the country, is the second town in Romania after Suceava to go under full lockdown. The decision was made under a military order, after the town was confirmed as a hotbed of infection in Ialomiţa County. It was precisely the local authorities that requested the lockdown, after hundreds of locals returned from abroad and defied all isolation requirements, in spite of the hundreds of fines ordered by the police. Police and military roadblocks are placed at all entryways to the town, and freight transport and emergencies are the only ones permitted to and from Ţăndărei, the interior minister, Marcel Vela, explained:

Marcel Vela: “We will only permit access to and from the town for freight transport purposes, for bringing in supplies to the locals, for some economic activities and for certain sectors such as public order, national security, healthcare and, obviously, public utilities. The verification and control activities are conducted by joint Interior Ministry and Defence Ministry staff.

The town of Suceava in the north-east, and 8 adjacent villages, were also fully locked down early last week, as the number of coronavirus cases had reached alarming levels. Moreover, military staff took over the management of the Suceava County Hospital. On Saturday, a hospital in the same county was closed down, and another one was partly closed.

Meanwhile, the interior minister Marcel Vela urges the Romanians living abroad not to come home for Easter and to protect their families in Romania by staying in their host countries.

Marcel Vela: “I call on all fellow Romanians in the diaspora to understand that this is for the better, even for themselves, because a long journey, where you have contact with other people in other countries, in petrol stations for instance, poses a risk of infection. And in this undesirable scenario, they come home and give the virus precisely to the people they love.

In fact, PM Ludovic Orban warns that those who choose to come to Romania after all will have to be quarantined for 14 days in special facilities, given that the number of “red-zone countries, with more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases, has grown significantly. Starting on Sunday night, all passenger flights to and from another 9 countries are suspended for 14 days. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, the US, Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, Turkey and Iran.

Flights to and from Spain, Italy, France and Germany had already been suspended. Charter flights are however permitted, to take Romanian seasonal workers to other countries. International road passenger transport is also suspended, but authorities introduced facilities for drivers in international freight transport.

And because many citizens still fail to understand the seriousness of the situation and to comply with the restrictions introduced recently, the authorities introduced tougher penalties for offences committed these days. The Government amended the relevant legislation, to the effect that offences committed under the state of emergency are punished more quickly and receive harsher penalties.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

6 April 2020
The Week in Review 30-03-05.04.2020

Romania affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

As of Monday, when the threshold of 2,000 cases of contamination was exceeded, Romania has entered stage 4 of the strategy meant to fight the coronavirus crisis. The number of contaminations and deaths continues to grow and the authorities believe that the pandemic in Romania will peak somewhere at the end of April. Many deplore the fact that there are not sufficient tests for the population.

According to the Strategic Communication Group in Bucharest, almost 28,500 tests had been processed countrywide by April 2. Also, the Romanian hospitals don’t seem to be properly equipped to be able to face a surge in the number of patients. And the situation in Suceava (northeast) is proof thereof! On Monday evening it was announced that about one third of the total number of contaminations and deaths reported across Romania was registered in Suceava alone. Moreover, of all the medical staff infected across Romania, almost two thirds, that is around 200, are from the Suceava county hospital.

Consequently, the central authorities decided early this week to quarantine the entire city alongside 8 surrounding communes. Subsequently, a military doctor was placed at the helm of the Suceava hospital given that the former interim manager resigned due to stress, the lack of personnel, medical equipment and products.

The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has called on the medical staff to return to work: “The medical staff needs to be urgently tested so that they can return to work as soon as they have recovered. They need one more testing device that will be made available to them as soon as possible. They now have medicines, protection equipment, and procedures are also in place. I am addressing especially the physicians and medical staff from the Suceava hospital: please, go back to work, take care of the sick, and observe the procedures! We are counting on you!”

He also called on the government to identify funds to be channeled as bonuses to the salary of the medical staff that will work with patients infected with COVID-19. In Romania, the coronavirus pandemic has made several doctors and nurses to resign for fear they might get infected. Also some of the medical staff resigned to protest against the lack of protection equipment.

Operation ‘Equipping hospitals’ in full swing

The Romanian authorities have taken new measures to help those who are on the front line of the fight against the new coronavirus. According to the head of the Department for Emergency Situations Raed Arafat, the specialized medical staff, the auxiliary sanitary staff and other categories of sanitary staff are not allowed to refuse temporary assignment to a certain medical unit during the state of emergency, they are obliged to go wherever they are asked to, even in public hospitals with staff shortage from other counties of Romania. Raed Arafat also announced that hospitals are not allowed to refuse hospitalization of patients on the grounds that they are or are not confirmed with coronavirus infection. Consequently, the medical staff is obliged to wear protection equipment at all times.

In another development, a C-17 Globemaster III NATO aircraft has brought to Bucharest from South Korea a second tranche of 100 thousand hazmat suits. A C-27J Spartan aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces has brought from Turkey 100 thousand face masks of the FFP2 and FFP3 types. Also the Romanian Army has set up near Bucharest a ROL 2-type field hospital which is now operational. In the city port of Constanta (southeast) works are under way to build a modular isolation and treatment hospital, which will operate as an extension of the Infectious Diseases Section of the Military Hospital from Constanta. Also, Romania saw the start of the production of face masks, with some 15 million masks expected to be produced monthly.

New decisions on entering Romania

Based on military decree no. 5, Romania has extended the suspension of flights to and from Spain and Italy, the European countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Also, the list of ‘red zones’ for which quarantine is required was updated on Thursday, to include 12 countries: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Iran, Great Britain, the Netherlands, the US and Turkey. Thus the Romanian citizens coming from these countries will be quarantined in specialized institutions for 14 days. The people coming from abroad will also have to self isolate for 14 days. The decision took effect on April 3, at midnight, Romania’s time. At the same time, 20 times higher fines were enforced for those people who violate the state of emergency. Fines for individuals reach up to 4 thousand Euros while for companies up to almost 15 thousand Euros.

Alarming figures from the Labor Ministry

Data provided by the Labor Ministry on April 2 shows that the number of Romanians left without a job stands at almost 174 thousand as their contracts were terminated. More than 860 thousand people are in technical unemployment. And the figures are alarmingly growing. Most of the people who lost their jobs were working in such fields as retail and wholesale trade, car and motorcycle repair, hotels, restaurants and constructions. Consequently the Romanian Government and Parliament are trying to work out solutions to support the population as well as the economic sectors affected by the crisis. (translation by L. Simion)

4 April 2020
Medical staff on the front line

The number of Covid-19 cases
in Romania is for the time being much lower than in other European countries
like Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Romanian
health experts tend to believe, however, that infections may peak at the end of
April. Based on the most pessimistic scenario, the authorities are making
preparations for the health system to cope as best as possible with the
challenges ahead. It’s a fight against the clock.

New measures were announced
on Sunday night concerning the staff on the front line. Medical staff can no
longer refuse to be posted or transferred for the duration of the state of
emergency, but must go wherever they are needed, even to understaffed public
hospitals in other counties, said the head of the department for emergency
situations, Raed Arafat. He also said that hospitals can no longer refuse to
take patients on grounds that they have not been confirmed either positive or
negative for Covid-19. In these circumstances, the medical staff are obliged to
protect themselves in all cases. Raed Arafat:

Refusal to admit a patient
who needs medical care is a criminal matter. We are warning hospital managers
and heads of departments, as well as the doctors on call in hospitals that
patients cannot be denied treatment based on confirmation of whether they
tested positive or negative for Covid-19.

More tests among the
population will also be carried out gradually, according to Dr Alexandru
Rafila, the president of the Romanian Society of Microbiology:

The fact that we’re able to
double our testing capacity from one week to another is a good thing and I hope
that in the next few weeks we may end up testing up to 10,000 people a day.

In another development, A NATO C-17 Globemaster III aircraft has made a second shipment
to Bucharest of 10,000 protection suits purchased by Romania from South Korea.
A ROLE 2 type field hospital put in place by the army was declared operational
on Saturday near Bucharest, within the grounds of the Ana Aslan Institute of
Gerontology and Geriatrics. The hospital will function as an external wing of
the emergency Military Hospital in Bucharest. Work is also under way in
Constanta, in the south-east, on a modular isolation and treatment hospital as
part of the infectious diseases department of the city’s military hospital.
Finally, the domestic production of face masks began on Sunday in Romania, with
150,000 pieces to be produced every day within a short period of time. (Tr.: CM)

30 March 2020
March 22, 2020 UPDATE 23

COVID-19 Romania As of Sunday night Bucharest introduced new restrictions to contain the spreading of COVID-19, including a 10p.m to 6a.m. curfew. People will be allowed to leave their homes at night only for work-related purposes, or to buy food or other essential items. The authorities urge people to also limit daytime outdoor activities as much as possible. Retail will be temporarily suspended, except for foodstuffs, veterinary products and pharmaceuticals. Dentists offices will also be closed, except for emergency interventions. Romania has also closed borders for foreign citizens and stateless persons, except for transit corridors agreed on with neighbouring states. Exceptions to this rule include foreign family members of Romanian citizens, family members of other EU citizens or citizens of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation residing in Romania, people traveling for work-related purposes, diplomatic and consular personnel, staff of international organisations, military and humanitarian personnel, passengers transiting Romania or passengers travelling for strict medical or family-related emergencies, people in need of international protection or people traveling for humanitarian reasons.

UPDATE Romania has reported three deaths caused by COVID-19 in the country. According to the Strategic Communication Group, so far 433 cases have been confirmed in Romania, with 64 of them recovered and discharged. The average age of the patients is 41. According to the Foreign Ministry, 8 Romanian citizens have died abroad because of the COVID-19, 7 in Italy and 1 in France.

EU The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu will take part on Monday in an informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers, held via conference call. The agenda focuses on the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The EU officials will also discuss current affairs, such as the latest developments in Syria and Turkey.

TRIBUTE The well-known Romanian anthropologist Vintilă Mihăilescu died, aged 68. In 1990, he established the Romanian Cultural Anthropology Society, and between 2005 and 2010 he was the director of the Romanian Peasant Museum. Vintilă Mihăilescu was a visiting professor in many universities and advanced research centres in Canada, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary. In 2006 the President of Romania made him a Knight of the National Order Faithful Service and in 2007 a Grand Officer of the Cultural Merit Order.

COVID-19 world The president of Italy Sergio Mattarella sent a letter to his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressing hope that other countries will be able to learn from his countrys battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic, DPA reports. Mattarella also thanked Steinmeier for the solidarity and aid provided by Germany, which has sent healthcare products to Italy. Italy is the worst-hit country in Europe, with nearly 5,000 deaths reported by Sunday. Europe reported over 150,000 COVID-19 cases, more than 53,000 in Italy alone, according to a report worked out by AFP based on official sources. With at least 152,000 cases and 7,800 deaths, Europe is the most affected continent, ahead of Asia, where 97,000 people got sick and nearly 3,500 died. According to France Presse, the official number of cases is only part of the actual number of coronavirus infections, given that in many countries only hospitalised patients are being tested. Around the world, 320,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported since the epidemic started. The death toll reached 13,700 and 96,000 patients have recovered.

WATER The UN calls for better use of water to help fight climate change. In a report issued on World Water Day, the organisation emphasised that better management of water resources may contain global warming. The UN says treating larger quantities of used water should be one of the priorities. Up to 90% of the used water is not treated at present, although it is an important source of methane, which is a greenhouse gas. The UN also asks for the protection and reconstruction of wetlands, which store twice as much carbon as forests, while also preventing floods and providing a habitat for wildlife. The report criticises the lack of cooperation between governments in the field of global warming and water management.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

22 March 2020
March 22, 2020

COVID-19 Romania Bucharest on Saturday night announced new restrictions to contain the spreading of COVID-19. The interior minister Marcel Vela said retail would be temporarily suspended, except for foodstuffs, veterinary products and pharmaceuticals. Under a military order presented by the interior minister, the measure takes effect tonight. Dentists offices will also be closed, except for emergency interventions. A 10p.m to 6a.m. curfew was introduced, with people allowed to leave their homes at night only for work-related purposes, or to buy food or other essential items. Romania has also closed borders for foreign citizens and stateless persons, except for transit corridors agreed on with neighbouring states. Exceptions to this rule include foreign family members of Romanian citizens, family members of other EU citizens or citizens of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation residing in Romania, people traveling for work-related purposes, diplomatic and consular personnel, staff of international organisations, military and humanitarian personnel, passengers transiting Romania or passengers travelling for strict medical or family-related emergencies, people in need of international protection or people traveling for humanitarian reasons.

COVID-19 world At least 900 million people in over 35 countries around the world are isolating, either as part of mandatory measures introduced by national authorities, or further to recommendations made by the authorities in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. Curfews have been introduced in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jordan and Burkina Faso. Tunisia and Rwanda have today imposed lockdowns. In South America, Bolivia decided nation-wide quarantine, while Columbia and the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil will do the same as of Tuesday. In the US as well, 30% of the citizens have been ordered to stay at home. Over 300,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in 169 countries and territories since the epidemic started, and the death toll exceeds 12.800. The worst-hit country in the world is now Italy, where the situation continues to worsen. The number of victims in that country is over 4800. (…) The novel coronavirus continues to spread in the UK, where the government has urged 1.5 million vulnerable people to stay at home for 3 months. China announced 46 new cases today, only one of which was locally transmitted, after 3 consecutive days with no local infections. One of the priorities in the country where the pandemic broke out in December is to prevent the disease from entering Chinese territory from abroad. Other severely hit countries are Iran, Spain, France and the USA.

UPDATE Romania has reported the first 2 deaths caused by COVID-19 in the country. According to the Strategic Communication Group, they were a 67-year old man suffering from terminal cancer and a 74-year old man with a chronic disease. So far 433 cases have been confirmed in Romania, 64 of whom are recovered and discharged. According to the Foreign Ministry, 8 Romanian citizens have died abroad because of the COVID-19, 7 in Italy and 1 in France.

WATER The UN calls for better use of water to help fight climate change. In a report issued on World Water Day, the organisation emphasises that better management of water resources may contain global warming. The UN says treating larger quantities of used water should be one of the priorities. Up to 90% of the used water is not treated at present, although it is an important source of methane, which is a greenhouse gas. The UN also asks for the protection and reconstruction of wetlands, which store twice as much carbon as forests, while also preventing floods and providing a habitat for wildlife. The report criticises the lack of cooperation between governments in the field of global warming and water management.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

22 March 2020
State of emergency, tougher measures in Romania

In a press conference given on Saturday evening, the relevant Romanian authorities made public new restrictions, in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Weve managed to reach our main objective: there is no large scale community spread of the novel coronavirus in Romania, the Romanian interior minister, Marcel Vela, said.

The Romanian official announced new restrictions, adopted
through a military ordinance. All of them are meant to limit the risks the population is exposed to. The activity of dental clinics has been temporarily
suspended, except for emergencies. Retail activities have been brought to a
halt in commercial centers, such as malls, where several operators are doing business. This does not apply to food sellers,
pharmacies and cleaning service providers. Religious service has been restricted, with masses being celebrated online. A maximum of 8 people are allowed to attend private events such as marriages, baptisms and funerals.

Residents are required to stay at home to the maximum extent possible during daytime, with a ban on non-essential travel being imposed between 10 PM and 06 AM. The movement of persons outside their homes is allowed only when in full compliance with the general measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, avoiding the formation of any group larger than 3 people who do not live together.

People on lockdown or under stay-at-home order who leave their homes without approval from the authorities will be placed under quarantine. In turn, those leaving the quarantine facilities without official authorization will get a 14 day quarantine extension, will be fined and face criminal prosecution.

In addition to these measures, local authorities should identify and provide assistance to people aged over 65 years who lack support, so as to reduce to a minimum their movements outside the house.

Also, Romania halts entry for
foreigners, except for when they transit Romania’s territory along transit corridors, laid out in agreement with the neighboring states. Exception
to the rule are, among others,
foreigners who are family members of the Romanian citizens, foreigners
who are family members of EU, EEA and Swiss Confederation citizens residing in Romania,
foreigners who hold a long stay visa, a stay permit or an equivalent document issued by the authorities of other states, according to the EU law, foreigners who travel to
Romania for professional purposes, proven by a visa, a stay permit or another
equivalent document, foreigners who are members of the diplomatic and consular
corps, the staff of international organizations, military personnel or
personnel who can provide humanitarian assistance.

The
same applies to passengers who transit Romania, including those who are
being repatriated after having been granted consular protection, passengers who
make essential travels (on medical or family-related grounds), people who
need international protection etc.

All measures will be enforced as from March 22, 2020, 22.00 hours, local time.

21 March 2020
March 19, 2020

Bucharest Parliament — Romania’s Parliament is having an online joint session today aimed at analyzing the request of President Klaus Iohannis on declaring a state of emergency for 30 days. It is for the first time that such a special procedure is used for debate and remote electronic voting, which was approved on Monday by the joint permanent bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. In another development, the PM Ludovic Orban announced on Thursday increased penalties for those who prevent or thwart the effort of fighting the coronavirus epidemic as well as for those who make false declarations in relation to their possible contamination. The government also decided to increase the ceiling for guaranteeing credits for SMEs by almost 1 billion Euros. Also, the executive decided to ensure the payment of 75% of the gross salary for technical unemployment, but not more than 75% of the average gross salary, said Thursday the PM Ludovic Orban. So far 277 cases of COVID-19 infections have been reported on Romania’s territory, 25 people have recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.

MAE – The Romanian Foreign Ministry informs that 89 Romanian citizens returned home from Spain on Thursday, following the intervention of the Foreign and Transport Ministries’ officials. On Wednesday they facilitated the repatriation of 100 Romanian citizens: 74 from Malta and 26 from Egypt. According to the same source, the repatriations are part of the actions undertaken by the authorities to help the Romanian citizens who were abroad temporarily to return home and to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. MAE reiterated appeals to the Romanian citizens to avoid unnecessary trips abroad and recommended the Romanian citizens who are temporarily away from home to urgently return home. Also, MAE calls on the Romanian citizens with their domicile or residence abroad to strictly observe the recommendations of the authorities of those states and underlines that travelling to Romania is not recommended.

Coronavirus world — At least 219,000 cases of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed around the world and more than 8,800 deaths. China has announced that the COVID-19 community spread has ended and the new cases reported are from those people who return from abroad. In Italy the number of victims nears the total number reported in the Hubei region in China, where the virus appeared. As many as 3,000 people have died in Italy, 475 in the past day alone, which points to the biggest death toll since the coronavirus outbreak in the north of the country. In France the number of people infected with COVID-19 is well beyond 9,000 with 264 deaths reported. The EU has closed its borders for foreign citizens and banned non-essential travel in the Schengen area in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In this context the European Central Bank announced an emergency plan of 750 billion Euros for public and private debt in a bid to control the economic impact of the pandemic. According to estimates, the GDP in the Euro zone might drop by 5% this year.

Romanian Academy — The president of the Romanian Academy Ioan-Aurel Pop says that in the context of this ‘hugely bad situation’ represented by the coronavirus pandemic, Romanians have had a lot to gain in terms of communication, dialogue and kindness. He has urged people to help instate a climate of law and order. In a Facebook post Ioan-Aurel Pop writes that ‘this is no time to lament, but this is time to better adapt to the situation and go on’.

Statistics – The population of Romania, according to the domicile criterion, numbered 22.175 million people on January 2020, lower by 0.1% as against the same month of 2019 – show data provided by the National Institute of Statistics on Thursday. At the reference date, the population residing in urban areas was of 12.5 million people. Also the process of population aging intensified as compared to January 1, 2019, with a slow drop in the share of young people and a small rise in the share of old people. (translation by L. Simion)

19 March 2020
March 18, 2020 UPDATE

Covid-19 Romania 260 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Romania by Wednesday. So far, 19 people have recovered. At national level, some 3,400 people are in quarantine facilities and are being tested. Another 23,679 people are self-isolating at home and under medical monitoring. New restrictions took effect in Romania on Wednesday, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. All restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other types of public facilities were closed for 30 days, in order to facilitate social distancing. Only drive-in, room-service and home delivery services will be allowed. All indoor activities, including religious and sporting events, are suspended, and so are services provided in beauty shops and spa facilities. The National Bank announced full support for the efforts of the banking system to assist individual and corporate clients affected by the crisis. Measures in this respect include facilities regarding ongoing loan payments and accessing new financing lines, and in case of growing demand, making sure that banks have uninterrupted cash flow for all operations, including ATM withdrawals, the central bank also said.

Covid-19 world The head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Wednesday called the novel coronavirus an “enemy of mankind, as the virus has killed more than 8,000 people worldwide. The EU has closed its borders for non-EU citizens and has banned non-essential circulation in the Shengen area, in order to curb the spread of the pandemic, while several member countries have locked down cities or regions. The most affected country in Europe, Italy, where nearly 3,000 people died so far, is no longer capable of dealing with the situation in hospitals. The Republic of Moldova Wednesday reported the first death caused by COVID-19. Meanwhile, several countries have announced huge financial aid plans to fight the pandemic.

Government The Romanian Government convened today for the first time since the president declared a state of national emergency in Romania on Monday. It was the first session of the Liberal Cabinet headed by Ludovic Orban. The meeting was held via conference call and focused on economic decisions, given the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government announced support for companies’ cashflows and for the employees who have been idled. Also, the deadline for local tax payments will be extended, and capacities for the production of sanitary materials and disinfectants will be enhanced. The financial impact of these measures is estimated at some 2% of the country’s GDP for the next three months, the Finance Minister Florin Citu has stated.

Simulation Romanian MPs Wednesday organised an online voting simulation. It was a test for Thursday’s joint session, which will be held online for the first time. The participants will vote the decree under which a state of national emergency has been declared in Romania, and senators and deputies are to vote online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Constitution, Parliament can only endorse or reject the presidential decree. The debates will be held via conference call.

Corridor Budapest will allow Romanian citizens to transit Hungary to get to Romania every night between 9pm and 5am, on designated routes set by the Hungarian authorities. The agreement was reached on Wednesday by Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu during a telephone call with his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó, after large numbers of Romanians got stranded on Austrias border with Hungary. Thousands of Romanian, Bulgarian and other nationals were unable to transit Hungary, which closed its borders for foreigners. The Romanian foreign ministry also announced that 78 Romanian citizens were repatriated from Jordan on Wednesday.

EUROVISION The 2020 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to take place in May in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was cancelled over the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers announced on Wednesday. Romania was supposed to take part in the competition alongside 40 other countries. Roxen had been chosen to represent Romania with a piece called “Alcohol You. The Eurovision Song Contest is an event watched every year by millions on TV channels around the world.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

18 March 2020
March 16, 2020 UPDATE

Coronavirus Romania — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced that a state of emergency was declared as of Monday on the entire territory of Romania for 30 days. Thus, schools will be closed to protect children, pupils and students. Price caps may be regulated for medicines, basic foodstuffs and public utility services. Employees will benefit from social protection, the state of emergency allows the authorities to adopt gradually or immediately such measures as closing the borders, some restaurants, cafes and clubs. Also road, rail and air traffic may be gradually restricted on certain routes as well as subway traffic in Bucharest. Also in the sanitary field, people may be hired without a contest, necessary materials will be purchased directly and the state may requisition certain medicine stocks. The government may adopt measures to support companies affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. As regards the judiciary, their activity will continue only in relation to extremely urgent cases. According to the authorities, the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Romania reached 168, and 9 of these people have recovered and have been discharged from hospital. More than 3 thousand people are in institutionalized quarantine and over 15,500 are in quarantine at home and under medical monitoring. So far more than 36 criminal investigations have been opened in relation to the crime of thwarting efforts to combat the spread of the virus. Meanwhile the authorities have decided that all asymptomatic people who come to Romania from countries with at least 500 confirmed COVID-19 infections such as France, Germany, Spain, Iran and China will enter mandatory self-isolation at home for a period of 14 days. The measure applies to people entering the country by air and by road. After Romania officially entered stage three of the outbreak, the authorities stepped up efforts, adding new measures to those already taken, such as restricting all cultural, scientific, artistic, religious and sports events in enclosed spaces and attended by more than 50 people. Parliament passed an amendment allowing for its sessions and voting to take place through electronic means, in exceptional circumstances.

Coronavirus world — The EC will introduce temporary restrictions for a period of 30 days related to non-essential travel within the EU as part of its efforts to combat and contain the spread of the new coronavirus in Europe. The leaders of the member states will have a videoconference on Tuesday to deal with the issue. More and more states in Europe, the new hotbed of the coronavirus pandemic according to the World Health Organisation, have taken drastic measures to contain the spread of the virus. Italy, which has been in lockdown for several days, saw a record 368 deaths in 24 hours on Sunday. Spain is in almost total lockdown, being the second worst affected country in Europe after Italy. The Spanish authorities said on Monday that the initial 15-day quarantine period would be extended. The situation is also deteriorating in France and Germany has partially closed borders with Austria, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland, for all but commercial and business travel. Poland already closed its border with Germany last week. The World Health Organisation says most cases of infection with Covid-19 are now outside China, the country where the outbreak started. On Monday, China announced 16 new infections, of which 12 in persons coming from abroad and said everyone entering Beijing will automatically go into quarantine for 14 days. (update by L. Simion)

16 March 2020
Appeal to responsibility in the context of the coronavirus pandemic

“A prudent and responsible behavior is very different from panic. Avoid spreading fake news, that generate anxiety and irrational behaviors. The fake news pandemic is extremely dangerous,“ President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday, when he addressed Romanians in the context of an increase in the number of coronavirus infections in Romania. “Get your information from official sources only, listen to the public releases of the state institutions and to official news channels, “, Iohannis went on to say. The head of state dismissed rumors according to which entire Romanian cities would be put under quarantine, and urged people not to take pharmacies and stores by storm.

“All these in the context of long queues at food stores where shelves with basic food products, meat in particular and shelves with desinfectants have been emptied. There were also queues at pharmacies, but not very long ones. Representatives of the big store networks in Romania have announced they took measures meant to prevent crowding and that the highly circulated zones will be constantly disinfected. Also, the staff of the stores was instructed and is monitoring the observance of the 1-meter minimum distance between customers, also by using all technical devices available. Working hours have been readjusted so as to avoid the crowding of the public transportation means, a triage procedure has been put into place for the employees, to prevent the access of people with symptoms of infection to the workplace, while customers are informed on the prevention measures through messages and posters displayed at the cashiers. The strict observance of the hygiene measures is the main defense against the spread of the virus and we can all help decrease the risk of infection,“ Iohannis also explained.

Limited social contact, avoidance of crowded areas and a flexible work schedule are also important. Quarantine and self-isolation where needed are compulsory, no matter how unpleasant they may be, the head of state also said, adding that he was optimistic about Romania getting over this crisis. Iohannis called on people to be kind and to trust and help each other. Also on Thursday, the decision to close some of the less used check points, was taken, in order to redirect border staff to the the busier check points.

13 March 2020
Sports weekend

The Youth and Sports Ministry in Bucharest on Thursday recommended the national sports federations to ban all competitions and suspend athletes’ trips abroad, to international competitions or training stages. The decision is part of a measures package aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19.

The Romanian Football Federation has ruled the suspension of all competitions until March 31. According to a press release posted on the Federation’s webpage: “The Romanian Football Federation believes it is its responsibility to protect the family of the Romanian football and take an active part in the measures the Romanian government and the international authorities have recommended for the protection of public health. Therefore, at a meeting venued by the House of Football today, and as a result of the consultations we had with the affiliated members, the management of the Romanian Football Federation, through an Emergency Committee, has decided to suspend all football competitions, male or female, as well as the futsal competitions staged in Romania.”

At a meeting scheduled on March 17, the UEFA is yet to decide if it will postpone this coming summer’s European Championship, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The final tournament is scheduled in Romania and 11 other countries, over June 12 — July 12.

The rugby match pitting Romania and Belgium was also postponed. It was scheduled in Botosani, in the north, this coming Saturday. The fixture counted towards the last round of Rugby Europe Championship 2020. After five rounds, Romania is at the bottom of the table among the European rugby’s second-tier teams. Romania’s record so far includes one win and three defeats. (translation by E. Nasta)

13 March 2020
Sports weekend

The Youth and Sports Ministry in Bucharest on Thursday recommended the national sports federations to ban all competitions and suspend athletes’ trips abroad, to international competitions or training stages. The decision is part of a measures package aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19.

The Romanian Football Federation has ruled the suspension of all competitions until March 31. According to a press release posted on the Federation’s webpage: “The Romanian Football Federation believes it is its responsibility to protect the family of the Romanian football and take an active part in the measures the Romanian government and the international authorities have recommended for the protection of public health. Therefore, at a meeting venued by the House of Football today, and as a result of the consultations we had with the affiliated members, the management of the Romanian Football Federation, through an Emergency Committee, has decided to suspend all football competitions, male or female, as well as the futsal competitions staged in Romania.”

At a meeting scheduled on March 17, the UEFA is yet to decide if it will postpone this coming summer’s European Championship, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The final tournament is scheduled in Romania and 11 other countries, over June 12 — July 12.

The rugby match pitting Romania and Belgium was also postponed. It was scheduled in Botosani, in the north, this coming Saturday. The fixture counted towards the last round of Rugby Europe Championship 2020. After five rounds, Romania is at the bottom of the table among the European rugby’s second-tier teams. Romania’s record so far includes one win and three defeats. (translation by E. Nasta)

13 March 2020
Romanian authorities call for responsibility

Given the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Romania, the authorities have taken a number of additional special measures, targeting both the people who enter Romanian territory from abroad, and the general public.

First of all, all citizens, Romanians or foreigners, who come from the so-called “red zones (the entire Italy, Hubei region in China, including the city of Wuhan, and the Cheongdo county and Daegu city in South Korea) will be quarantined for 14 days in special facilities. Those who come from the “yellow zones (continental China, the entire Iran, other counties and localities in South Korea, as well as Heisnberg district in North-Rhine Westphalia in Germany) will be asked to self isolate.

The relevant bodies will ensure compliance with these measures, and failure to comply will lead to fines of up to 4,000 euros. The fine will be applied on each occasion in case of repeat violations. The head of the Department for Emergencies, Raed Arafat, warned that several such punishments have already been put into practice. He also announced that indoor cultural, scientific, artistic, religious, sports and entertainment activities involving more than 100 people have been restricted until March 31st, and the period may be extended.

University courses have also been suspended until the end of March, and alternatives such as online programmes have been suggested. Public institutions will have to reorganize working hours, so that employees may come to work at 3 different times during the day, to avoid crowding in public transportation and reduce the risk of infection. As Raed Arafat also said, “we voted to recommend private entities, including business operators with more than 99 employees, to rethink working hours for the staff who use public transportation. This recommendation takes effect in Bucharest and county capitals between March 12th and 31st, and the period may be extended. Raed Arafat also explained that under this guideline, companies will have employees coming to work in 3 separate shifts.

Exports of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment used in treating the coronavirus disease have also been suspended for 6 months. The products barred from exports include antivirals, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, fever reducers, antifungal drugs, anesthetics, sedatives, and medical materials such as gloves, syringes, goggles, protective coveralls, disinfectants and so on.

Authorities also urged people to comply with the recommendations and to get information from official sources exclusively. Romania is now in scenario number 2, with 26-100 infected patients, and prevention is still the main concern, before major changes in hospitals. If quarantine facilities prove to be insufficient, strictly monitored home quarantine may be introduced.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

12 March 2020