Radio România Internațional

Tag: measures

Structural problems of the Romanian healthcare system

The Romanian healthcare system is one of the worst performing in Europe. The effects of its severe underfunding in the last thirty years, irrespective of the party in power, are being felt harder than ever, in the context of the coronavirus crisis. The number of hospitals is too small to handle all people infected with Covid-19 and the patients suffering from chronic diseases. The medical equipment is, in most cases, obsolete and the staff is insufficient, given that thousands of doctors and nurses have left Romania for better jobs abroad. The situation is worse, even dramatic in small towns, where hospitals are severely understaffed and poorly equipped. That is why now, when the number of people infected with Covid-19 has surged to around 10 thousand per day, the healthcare system is under huge pressure.

The number of intensive care beds is too small, and even if solutions are found to supplement it, there is not enough medical staff. Moreover, as President Klaus Iohannis said five years ago, ”people had to die” for the authorities to actually start doing something about it. The recent tragedy at the County Hospital in Piatra Neamt, in north-eastern Romania, horrified the entire country. A number of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 burned alive in a fire that broke out in the intensive care unit where they were being treated. The fire could have been caused by a problem of a medical device in the ICU. On Wednesday the head of state met with decision makers and medical engineers, who presented him the results of an assessment of the medical infrastructure and the malfunctions at national level.

Following the meeting, President Iohannis said: ”First of all, the modernisation of medical gases, oxygen in particular, and of the electricity networks is needed. In this respect, we have found together the solution of drawing up a financing programme that uses European funds. Then we must revise the legislative and financial instruments for the service and maintenance system of hospital equipment. An important role will be played by medical engineers that must become more involved in the hospitals’ activity. These aspects will be part of the legislative package on the reform of the healthcare system, which is currently being drawn up by the Health Ministry. ”

The intentions are, of course, good but it remains to be seen when they become reality. President Iohannis has warned that this will be a long-term effort. (Translated by Elena Enache)

19 November 2020
November 17, 2020

COVID-19 Romania reports the highest SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate in 24 hours: over 43%. On Monday the authorities announced 4,931 cases out of around 11,200 tests. The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic in late February is now over 365,000. With the 149 deaths reported on Monday, the death toll exceeds 9,000, whereas the number of patients in intensive care is now 1,187. Nearly 70% of the total number of patients have recovered. As of today, 5 towns and a village in Alba County, central Romania, are under a 2-week lockdown because of the large number of coronavirus infections. Also as of today, Constanta city in the south east is closing parks and playgrounds, and streets, pavements and market places will be disinfected on a daily basis. The city of Sibiu (centre) and 3 other localities in the same county also introduced a lockdown on Monday, while the city of Bistriţa (centre) is waiting for approval from the National Public Health Institute to implement the same measure.

FIRE Investigators have completed inquiries into the fire that occurred on Saturday at the ICU of the Piatra Neamt County Hospital, treating Sars-Cov-2 patients. The criminal case concerns manslaughter and bodily harm offences, as 10 people died and 7 others were injured. Five of the victims could not be identified and DNA tests were required. Doctor Ioan Cătălin Denciu remains in a serious condition—he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to being transferred to Belgium, and the injuries are more severe than originally thought. The physician has 2nd degree burns on 75% of the body, which he suffered while trying to rescue the patients from the intensive care unit during the fire. The manager of the Piatra Neamţ Hospital has resigned. Joint teams from Public Health Directorates and the General Inspectorate for Emergencies have been conducting inspections, since Monday, in all intensive therapy units across the country, to check electrical installations and the state of medical equipment. The health minister Nelu Tătaru says many hospitals underwent rushed revamping in 2020, and now the authorities have to check whether safety rules were complied with.

UNIONS Members of the SANITAS healthcare workers union Tuesday observed a moments silence for the victims of the Piatra Neamt hospital fire, in front of the Government headquarter. SANITAS had scheduled a rally for Tuesday, but the union decided to replace the protest with a commemoration of the victims and of the healthcare workers who lost their lives on the job. Unionists warn that the tragedy may occur again, anywhere in the country, because of the worn out equipment and overworked personnel. They call on civil society to put pressure on politicians to reform the Romanian public healthcare sector. SANITAS officials Monday submitted a list of demands to all county prefect offices.

GAUDEAMUS The 27th edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair organised by Radio Romania since 1994, is taking place online until November 22nd. The event will end on Sunday and will take place exclusively online due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Attending the event are more than 100 companies, among which prestigious book publishers and distributors, music and educational games producers. Hundreds of events can be followed online on gaudeamus.ro, the website of the event, which this year is organised jointly with elefant.ro. Writer Norman Manea, nominated several times for the Nobel Prize for Literature, is the honorary president of this edition of the Gaudeamus book fair.

MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldovas ex-PM, the Pro-European Maia Sandu, is the first woman elected president of the country. In Sundays ballot she won 57.75% of the votes, according to the final data announced by the Electoral Committee in Chişinău. The incumbent president, pro-Russian Igor Dodon, who got 42%, announced however he was challenging the result. Maia Sandus priorities include ending corruption and public money theft and reforming the political class. The election result is a moral victory of pro-European forces which want genuine change, political commentators in Chisinau say. However, they warn that a tense period may follow, because Igor Dodons Socialists hold the largest number of seats in Parliament. (translated by A.M. Popescu)

17 November 2020
How effective will the new restrictions be?

New restrictions have been in place in Romania starting on Monday, aimed at slowing down the surge in new infections. Among them is the obligation to wear face masks indoors and outdoors all across the country, holding calsses exclusively online, closing stores at 9 pm at the latest and banning the movement of people during the night, with several exceptions.

Similar or even tougher measures have been adopted by many other countries, against the background of the second wave of the pandemic having gripped the planet. Romanian authorities hope to be able to limit the number of new infections in order to help the healthcare system, the intensive care units in particular, cope with the situation. But how effective will these measures be? The answers to this question can only come from the experts who have studied pandemics, from the expertise picked up since the start of the outbreak, from mathematical models and predictive calculations.

Octavian Jurma is an epidemiologist and a researcher in Timisoara, a city hardly affected by the pandemic. He said on Radio Romania that the restrictions in place are insufficient and that tougher measures are needed: “Even if we had taken all possible measures, we would still have had another two weeks of increase in infections. It’s just like when you turn off the tap, but water continues to run for a little while longer. These measures are not aimed at completely turning off the tap, but only at slowing down the water, in the hope the healthcare system will be able to cope with it. Unfortunately, the system is overwhelmed. We will have over 12 thousand cases this week for sure, and probably 15 thousand next week.”

Octavian Jurma believes that the best solution would have been total lockdown, just like in other countries, which could have taken us to less than 2,000 cases per day during the winter holidays. Octavian Jurma: “It is much cheaper to test people and then send them back to work than keep them 14 days in isolation and pay them medical leave. And I’m talking about these quick antigen tests that are less accurate but, at country level can ensure a return to work. Also, these tests should be coupled with a minimum period of quarantine. It would be good if we managed to at least test all people subject to epidemiological investigations. We no longer test direct contacts, but only people with symptoms. That is why one in three people tested is positive. Things are completely out of control.”

As regards a possible vaccine, the Romanian expert believes that only a small number of doses will be available before April. (Translated by Elena Enache)

10 November 2020
Romania goes into partial lockdown

Fresh restrictions are taking effect in Romania, after more than 300,000 COVID-19 cases reported in the country since the start of the pandemic.

Face covering is now compulsory in all indoor and outdoor public areas, regardless of the infection rate in the region. All schools have switched to online classes exclusively, although afterschool centres and nurseries will stay open.

Public and private institutions will have to redesign their operations, so that all employees that can work from home to do so. Companies with more than 50 employees are also bound to rethink working schedules.

All shops must be closed by 9 PM, except for home delivery units, pharmacies, and petrol stations. A curfew is in place, and special documents are required for any night travel. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, explained:

Raed Arafat: “A curfew is in place between 11 pm and 5 am, and all exceptions require special documents, either service cards or company permits, or sworn statements. Such exceptions include travel for professional purposes, for medical purposes, for medicine procurement, accompanying or providing care to children, elderly, ill or disabled people, or for funeral arrangements.

Raed Arafat also said the authorities expect the number of cases to grow, but that, if the new measures are implemented correctly, in 30 days there should be a decrease. Otherwise, further restrictions may be implemented.

A measure met with substantial discontent was the closing of indoor food markets and fairs. Scores of local producers and vendors protested in Brăila (south-east), forcing the mayor Marian Dragomir to find alternative solutions:

Marian Dragomir: “The City Hall will provide outdoor stalls free of charge, because this year we will no longer hold a Christmas fair. We will provide electricity connection and all retailers and display fridges will remain open outdoors. Access to the food market will be monitored and coordinated. This will help producers and traders.

Similar measures were announced by local authorities elsewhere in the country. Several hundreds of people gathered in front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest on Sunday night, to protest the new measures. Police issued fines and warnings on this occasion. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

9 November 2020
Romania rules out total shutdown

The health crisis deepens in Romania, where the number of infections increases by the day. Authorities are looking for solutions to limit the spread of the virus and to properly treat patients, while the healthcare system is under huge pressure. A 14-day lockdown has been imposed in several localities. Health Minister Nelu Tataru has explained that avoiding lockdown is possible only if people protect themselves by observing the restrictions in force.

Nelu Tataru: ”Every locality is evaluated separately and its particularities are taken into account. As you can see, in terms of number of new infections, we exclude the hotbeds in care centers for the elderly, for children and for mental patients, which are already under quarantine. When we see community transmission which is not connected to a hotbed, we consider lockdown, but only after we impose restrictions. Restrictions are aimed to decrease the number of new infections.”

The Health Minister also said that in the case of a big city where many tests are conducted and the number of people who test positive is high, toughening restrictions is preferred over lockdown, provided that the city has hospitals or medical units able to deal with the situation. Nelu Tataru does not believe there will be a total shutdown in Romania before the parliamentary elections due on December 6. He has also explained that intensive care units need more beds and that their number will be supplemented in the counties of Cluj and Sibiu, which are dealing with a big number of cases. The medical units’ capacity to receive patients with mild symptoms will also be increased. Tataru said that emergency units are overcrowded but that, by using rapid tests in the upcoming period, will ease some of the pressure. A first transport of 43 thousand such tests is already being distributed to hospitals.

The medical staff in hospitals, general practitioners, the Department for Emergencies and the military will help with the anti-Covid vaccination, according to Minister Tataru. Health workers and people at highest risk of the disease will be the first immunized, early next year while the rest of the population may receive the vaccine some time next spring. Also, the Romanian official said that in the current stage of the epidemic, kindergartens and schools will remain closed, until the number of cases starts to drop. (Translated by Elena Enache)

5 November 2020
New health protection rules

The Romanian authorities are taking new measures to fight the coronavirus epidemic, given that the number of coronavirus infections remains high and the health system is hardly coping with the situation. Thus, wearing protective masks in open spaces will be mandatory in all the localities of Romania’s counties where the cumulative rate of COVID-19 cases in 14 days exceeds 1.5 cases per one thousand inhabitants. The decision was made on Monday evening by the National Committee for Emergency Situations. So far, the mask was mandatory in the open air only in those areas where the contamination rate exceeded 3 cases per one thousand inhabitants, but the authorities have lowered the threshold in an attempt to limit the number of infections.

Also on Monday the PM Ludovic Orban underlined that in the localities with a high risk of virus spreading, the authorities may decide on mobility restrictions during the night. He also referred to the upcoming New Year’s Eve parties, reminding that activity is banned inside restaurants in those localities where the virus spread rate exceeds 3 cases per one thousand inhabitants. Asked about private parties, the PM answered that they might be equally banned if the current infection rate remained constant. As to shopping malls, PM Orban said they did not pose any risk so the authorities were not considering closing them. He went on to say that most important these days was for everybody to get mobilized. ‘If people observe the health protection rules, we will be able to return to normal soon’, the PM concluded.

As regards education, more than half of Romania’s schools and kindergartens are in the red and yellow scenarios, which imply online or hybrid classes. As many as one million Romanian pupils, that is more than 30%, have classes exclusively online. The education minister Monica Anisie called on the school inspectors to intensify monitoring the online courses, given that more and more students and parents reported that online teaching activities were not actually held. All school contests and Olympiads have been suspended for the time being. In Bucharest, schools will operate online until November 16.

In another development, the authorities announced that the Military Emergency Hospital in Cluj Napoca (northwest) became a COVID-19-support medical unit. It has 30 beds for infected patients, of which 25 are for moderate and severe cases and 5 for critical cases in intensive care. Also the National Committee for Emergency Situations has updated the list of countries, areas and territories with a high epidemiological risk, for whose citizens home isolation for 14 days is imposed upon arrival in Romania. These states are: Andorra, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Slovenia, Armenia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, the Netherlands, Croatia, Georgia, Guam, Slovakia, Poland, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Montenegro, San Marino, Italia, the UK, Portugal, Northern Macedonia, Argentina, Gibraltar, Malta, Jordan, Hungary, Bulgaria and the French Polynesia.(tr. L. Simion)

3 November 2020
New procedure for Covid-19 patients with mild or no symptoms

Severely underfinanced for years, the Romanian healthcare system is one of the worst performing in Europe, and its many problems surface mostly in crisis situations, such as the coronavirus pandemic. Thus, at present, the number of available hospital beds for the people infected with Covid-19 is insufficient, given the increasing number of patients.

Previously ordering the hospitalisation of all people infected, including the ones with mild or no symptoms, authorities have now decided that these two categories should be treated at home, in order to ease the pressure put on hospitals. In keeping with a new order of the Health Minister, people who test positive to the virus must notify their general practitioner. The latter must monitor their health and announce the Public Health Department. People with mild or no symptoms can isolate themselves at home or at an address supplied to the authorities. People with no symptoms but with underlying health conditions, at their request and upon the reccomendation of the general practitioner, will be taken to Covid hospitals for medical tests and then, with their consent, comitted to Covid phase I or phase II hospitals that have intensive care units or to support hospitals in case the Covid hospitals do not have ICUs.

However, it is also possible not to have enough beds in ICUs for patients in critical condition or enough medical staff. That is why, the Government has adopted a draft emergency order allowing the direct hiring, at the Gerota Hospital in Bucharest, of 200 physicians who completed their intership and are specialised in intensive care, emergency, infectious disease, epidemiology and radiology. For six months, the 200 physicians can be transffered, by order of the chief of the Department for Emergencies, to any medical unit in need of staff. When the period for which they were hired expires, these physicians can be hired for an indefinite period in the medical units that have vacancies.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

29 October 2020
October 27, 2020 UPDATE

COVID-19 Another 4,724 new COVID-19 cases were announced in Romania on Tuesday, and a record-high number of deaths, 104—which takes the death toll so far to over 6,500. Over 820 people are in intensive care. On Tuesday, president Klaus Iohannis held a meeting with the health minister, Nelu Tătaru and ICU experts, to assess the crisis. According to the president, the situation is worsening steadily both at European and at national level. He cautioned that sustained effort is needed in order to contain the pandemic. Iohannis added that the authorities strategic plan for the forthcoming period includes, among other things, opening new intensive care units in the country, and increasing the ICU capacity in 7 hospitals in Bucharest. He also said that accessing EU funding would help improve Romanias capacity to handle the crisis by purchasing new hospital equipment. Iohannis explained that at present Romania has over 3,000 beds in ICUs, for both Covid and non-Covid patients, and over 2,200 ventilators, plus 5 mobile ICUs, 2 modular field hospitals and an ICU module. Interior minister Marcel Vela also announced that a new centre will be set up within the Dimitrie Gerota Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, for recovered COVID-19 patients to donate plasma for severe cases.

VISIT On the last day of his visit to France, the Romanian PM Ludovic Orban Tuesday had a meeting with the secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development José Ángel Gurría, and gave an address in the OECD Council meeting. In his speech, Ludovic Orban reiterated Romanias firm commitment to becoming a member of this structure, and emphasised Bucharests determination to invest in key areas like transport infrastructure, digital connectivity, energy and environmental transition, urban development, healthcare, agriculture, education, social protection and research-innovation. Also on Tuesday the Romanian PM met separately with the speakers of the French Parliaments two chambers, and had a meeting with members of the Romanian community in France. Ludovic Orban also talked to representatives of the
French business environment, members of France’s largest employers’ union -
MEDEF, about investment opportunities in Romania. On Monday, following talks with the French PM Jean Castex, important agreements were signed for strengthening political, economic and military ties between Romania and France.

DEFICIT Romanias budget deficit reached 6.36% of GDP in the first 9 months of this year, as against 2.6% of GDP in the corresponding period of last year, according to the Finance Ministry. More than half of the deficit registered in January – September 2020 is accounted for by amounts channelled into the economy through tax facilities, investments and exceptional expenditure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Official estimates point to an 8.6% deficit this year.

AMBASSADORS Six nominees for Romanian ambassadors will be interviewed on Wednesday by Parliaments committees on foreign policy and the Romanian diaspora. The new ambassadors will serve in Morocco and Mauritania, North Macedonia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uzbekistan and Albania. On October 7 and 19, the relevant committees heard 16 other candidates, all of whom received Parliaments green light for their posts.

DIPLOMACY In Chişinău, the Russian Embassy and the ruling Socialist Party are accusing the Romanian ambassador of attempting to re-write the history of WW2. The response came after Ambassador Daniel Ioniţă paid tribute to the Romanian soldiers fighting to reunite Romanian regions, during a ceremony on the Romanian Army Day. The Embassy of Romania to Moldova replied it did not want to be dragged into the disputes triggered by the election campaign in that country. The unprecedented attack stirred harsh criticism among historians, academics and civil society. Analyst Nicolae Negru told Radio Chişinău that Russia has no moral right to give humanity lessons, given the persecution suffered by Bessarabian people under the Soviet regime. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

27 October 2020
October 26, 2020

COVID-19 According to the Strategic Communication Group, 2,844 new coronavirus infections were reported in the past 24 hours in Romania, with the total number of cases exceeding 212,000 in 8 months. Another 79 COVID-19 patients died, taking the death toll to 6,470. 823 patients are currently in intensive care. Bucharest reports the highest number of daily new cases, 520. Meanwhile, the National Committee for Emergencies Monday updated the list of COVID-19 high-risk countries. As of October 26, travelers coming into Romania from these countries must isolate for 14 days. The list comprises 30 countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, France, the UK, Ireland, Portugal. The US and the R. of Moldova are no longer on the list. Also today, the Committee passed a resolution clarifying that face masks can be taken off outdoors, for brief periods of time, when smoking, eating or drinking, or exercising. As of today, all schools, high schools and kindergartens in the cities of Timişoara, Sibiu and Baia Mare have switched to online classes, as the threshold of 3 COVID-19 infections per thousand inhabitants has been exceeded. Most major cities in Romania operate in the same scenario, including the capital Bucharest. In addition, face masks are compulsory in all indoor or outdoor public areas, and indoor restaurants, cafes, cinema and theatre halls are closed.

VISIT The PM of Romania Ludovic Orban is on an official visit to France on Monday and Tuesday. According to the Romanian Government, Ludovic Orban will have meetings with his French counterpart Jean Castex, with the speakers of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand, and the Senate, Gerard Larcher, and with the leader of the centre-right party ‘Les Republicains’, Christian Jacob. The Romanian PM will also take part in a meeting of the Council of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and will have official talks with the OECD secretary general Angel Gurria. The visit also includes a meeting with members of the Romanian community in France.

ELECTIONS The date of the forthcoming parliamentary election in Romania is discussed in Parliament as of today. A bill in this respect, enabling Parliament to set the election date instead of the Government, has been returned to Parliament by president Klaus Iohannis. Most likely the election date will be December 6, as already accepted by president Iohannis and the Liberal Government. The left-of-centre opposition however favours a postponement of the parliamentary election to March 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CORRUPTION The Chamber of Deputies is discussing and voting on Tuesday on a request filed by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate to commence prosecution against Deputy Nicolae Bănicioiu, who is accused of influence peddling and continuing bribe-taking. He denied all accusations and asked the Chamber to vote on the request, which has been already approved by the Judicial Committee. A former health minister, Nicolae Bănicioiu (Social Democratic Party) is probed into in a case involving the sale of medical products to public hospitals in Bucharest and Ilfov County. Prosecutors say Bănicioiu received 2.6 million euros from 2 businessmen in exchange for appointing or keeping in office hospital managers that had signed contracts with the respective companies.

JUSTICE The Romanian Justice Minister Cătălin Predoiu said on Sunday, the European Day of Justice, that results cannot be secured without constant investments in the judicial system. He added that in the ensuing years, alongside curbing corruption, which is yet to be solved, Romania will focus on fighting organised crime and human trafficking, including child trafficking, by means of thorough investigations and tough penalties in all the cases with enough evidence. Organised crime and human trafficking are incompatible with Romanias EU and NATO membership, minister Predoiu argued. (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

26 October 2020
October 23, 2020 UPDATE

COVID-19 A new record-high number of new SARS-CoV-2
cases in 24 hours in Romania, 5,028 out of 35,351 tests, was reported on
Friday. So far, 201,032 people have tested positive for the virus, and 144,429
of them have recovered. The Strategic Communication Group also announced that
another 82 people died, taking the death toll to 6,245. A total of 10,427
COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised, 782 of them in intensive care-the
largest number so far. Of the Romanians living abroad, 6,851 have so far
tested positive, and the number of deaths remains 126, the authorities also
announced.

PANDEMIC Global coronavirus cases are nearing 42 million, while the number
of fatalities has passed 1.14 million, according to Worldometers.info. Europe
is seeing a large number of infections in the second wave. Spain has passed 1
million cases. Ireland has seen over 2,000 daily cases and its government has
imposed strict measures. The UK has also reported its highest number of daily
cases, 27,000. Germany has also seen a record number of new 11,000 infections.
Poland’s PM announced on Friday that the entire country would be classified as
COVID red zone, with restaurants and primary schools partly closed down. The
Warsaw National Stadium will be converted into a temporary field hospital and
similar facilities will be arranged elsewhere in the country, after over 13,600
new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. On Friday Slovakia initiated a
3-week mass testing programme. Belgium and Czech Republic have the highest
number of infections per number of inhabitants. Beginning on Saturday, Greece
will impose travel restrictions in Athens, Thessaloniki and other badly hit areas.
France has extended its night curfew imposed in the main cities to most of the
country, beginning on Saturday.

MOBILITY On Friday the government of Romania challenged several provisions
in the EU Mobility Package I at the Court of Justice of the EU. Bucharest views
these provisions as having a negative impact on the domestic market and
affecting competitiveness of commodity transport in the Union. The move concerns,
among other things, the ban drivers on taking their compulsory weekly rest
hours on board of vehicles, the obligation for drivers to return to the
employer’s office or to their place of residence on a regular basis, and the
obligation to return vehicles to a company office within 8 weeks from
departure. The claim submitted to the Court of Justice of the EU follows
repeated efforts by the Romanian authorities against the restrictive and
disproportionate nature of these provisions in the Mobility Package I, the
Romanian Foreign Ministry said. Romania voted against the 3 regulations,
alongside 8 other EU member states (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta and Poland).

VISIT Romania’s PM Ludovic Orban will be on an official visit to
France on Monday and Tuesday. According to the Romanian Government, Ludovic
Orban will have meetings with his French counterpart Jean Castex, with the
speakers of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand, and the Senate, Gerard
Larcher, and with the leader of the centre-right party ‘Les Republicains’,
Christian Jacob. The Romanian PM will also take part in a meeting of the
Council of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The visit
also includes a meeting with members of the Romanian community in France.

CORRUPTION The Liberal George Scripcaru, the outgoing
mayor of Braşov in central Romania, has been charged with blackmail and is
under judicial supervision. According to the National Anti-Corruption
Directorate, while running for a new seat he threatened to cause problems to an
advertising company unless it posted his election ads on public transport buses
in the city. On September 27, Scripcaru lost the election to Allen Coliban
(Save Romania Union). Meanwhile, 2 former mayors of the Black Sea port city of Constanţa,
Decebal Făgădău and Radu Mazăre, both from the Social Democratic Party, have
been indicted in a new corruption case. They are accused of having unlawfully authorised
the construction of a luxury building on a beach.

NATO The Romanian defence minister Nicolae Ciucă
took part on Friday in a conference call of NATO defence ministers. The online
meeting focused on ongoing Allied missions and operations, with a focus on
those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nicolae Ciucă reiterated Romania’s commitment to
NATO missions, in a flexibly planned contribution that enables its
reconfiguring in line to future Allied decisions and the dynamic of specific
operational needs.

FOOTBALL The Romanian football champions CFR Cluj on Thursday night defeated the
Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia 2-nil in their opening Europa League Group A match.
In the same group, the Italian side AS Rome defeated the Swiss side BSC Young
Boys 2-1. Next week, AS Rome will be playing CSKA Sofia and CFR will be playing
BSC Young Boys. Eliminated from the Champions League in the preliminary
matches, CFR are the only Romanian side in the European competitions this year.
(translated by: A.M. Popescu)

23 October 2020
October 22, 2020

COVID-19 Romania reported on Thursday new record-high figures in terms of COVID-19 infections: 4,902 cases out of over 34,000 tests conducted, and 98 deaths. More than 10,354 people are hospitalised, 778 of them in intensive care. Since the start of the epidemic in Romania, the total number of cases has reached 196,004and the death toll stands at 6,163. The Government will amend the Quarantine Act today, in an emergency order, in view of preventing hospital overcrowding. Patients with mild forms of the disease and those without symptoms are to be treated at home, unless they suffer from previous conditions, the health minister Nelu Tătaru explained. The bill has been criticised by family physicians, who say examining patients at home is out of the question because physicians would be at risk.

ELECTIONS Today is the deadline for entering candidacies for the parliamentary elections in Romania, due on December 6. The highest-ranking parties in polls have already submitted their lists of Bucharest candidates to the Municipal Election Bureau. Also today is the last day when Romanian citizens living abroad can register for postal voting. The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority, Constantin-Florin Mituleţu-Buică, says that in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, postal voting is a safe and comfortable option, which does not require traveling, costs and risks. President Klaus Iohannis said the parliamentary election is crucial, in that it represents the only democratic option that would enable a representative parliament to manage the current healthcare crisis.

GOVERNMENT The Government is analysing in todays Cabinet meeting a draft order allowing parents to take days off from work if they need to stay at home with their children when schools are closed. The bill also stipulates support measures for employers and employees in the context of the ongoing pandemic. PM Ludovic Orban announced that also today the Bucharest Prefect Gheorghe Cojanu would be replaced. Cojanu has been criticised, including by president Klaus Iohannis, for his response when the COVID-19 infection rate in Bucharest moved over the 3 per thousand threshold. His replacement may be Traian Berbeceanu, a former police with the Organised Crime Division and currently the chief of staff of the interior minister Marcel Vela.

MILITARY Two Romanian troops were wounded on Wednesday night in Afghanistan, during a patrol mission. According to the Defence Ministry, they are stable, under medical supervision at the hospital within the Kandahar Air Base. The 2 are members of 191st Golden Lions Force Protection Battalion, and were deployed to Afghanistan in August, for a 6-month mission. Romanian troops have been present in Afghanistan since 2003, one year before Romania was admitted into NATO. Nearly 30 Romanian servicemen have been killed in that country.

AFGHANISTAN The situation in Afghanistan is discussed today by the NATO defence ministers as well, alongside the threat posed by Chinas and Russias space programmes, which may jeopardise NATO satellite communications. The Alliances secretary general Jens Stoltenberg explained that NATOs baseline requirements for national resilience have already been updated, including 5G and telecommunications, cyber threats, the security of supply chains, and the consequences of foreign ownership and control. Stoltenberg also voiced concern with Turkeys decision to purchase Russian S-400 defence systems, which cannot be integrated in the NATO system.

FOOTBALL Romanias football champions CFR Cluj are playing tonight away from home against the Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, in their first match in the Europa League Group A. Also today, in the same group, the Swiss side Young Boys Berna takes on AS Rome. Kicked out of the Champions League qualifiers into the Europa League, CFR Cluj is the last Romanian club to be playing in this years edition of the European football cups. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

22 October 2020
New economic measures during the pandemic

At a conference held in Bucharest, the Romanian finance minister Florin Citu has announced a series of economic measures aimed at supporting the Romanian business environment and economy in the coming period. The finance minister has reminded that, since the start of the crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic, the government has adopted a stimulus package for those who pay their taxes in due time, while suspending penalties for those who don’t. The period of penalties suspension is going to end on October 25. Also, the government admitted that the VAT return should be done under subsequent control.

Now, minister Citu announces that these deadlines will be prorogated and the payment of furlough by the state will also be extended. The finance minister has given assurances that “We are experiencing a difficult period, nobody has ever experienced that, nobody has found the solution and nobody knows what to do next, therefore we need dialogue. I am the first person to admit that the measures we have taken have not been perfect, but the government has subsequently improved them. We will continue to be flexible in the coming period as well.”

As to the pensions’ increase by 40%, a proposal of the opposition Social Democratic Party which holds the majority in Parliament and which voted this measure last month, the government argues that the Romanian economy is unable to support such a growth. Moreover, in an open letter, several Romanian economists, among whom the president of the Fiscal Council — Daniel Daianu, says that a 40% increase in the pension point at this moment should be avoided. The letter signatories say that the fight against the pandemic is not over yet, and that they need to manage an unprecedented economic crisis which severely affects the economy and puts people on the dole. The big challenge, they say, is to find a way for the economy to recover, to have economic growth with fiscal and budget consolidation in the coming years.

Economists show that in 2020 Romania will have a budget deficit of around 9% of the GDP which includes the 14% growth of the pension point. The document signatories also say that next year Romania will have to carry on with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic while trying to protect the economic recovery process. According to the document, the economy of the future will be different from the one existing prior to the pandemic, and economists need to be ready for the changes already occurring that have been accelerated by the health crisis, the new technologies and the states’ policies regarding climate change. (tr. L. Simion)

22 October 2020
October 17, 2020 UPDATE

COVID-19 In Romania, 3,952 new coronavirus infections were reported for the past 24 hours, according to the Strategic Communication Group. The overall number of cases is 176,468. Also, 63 more people died, taking the death toll to 5,812. A new negative record was also reported in terms of ICU patients—745. The authorities are seeking solutions to make sure as many hospitals as possible are involved in the fight against the pandemic. The head of the Department for Emergencies, Raed Arafat, said that according to experts this second wave of the pandemic may last throughout the winter. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, over 1,000 schools in the country operate exclusively online. The Education Ministry says over 11,300 schools still work in the face-to-face teaching system, while 5,235 schools use both in-person and online classes.

PANDEMIC The number of coronavirus infections worldwide is drawing near 40 million, with more than 1.1 million COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 30 million patients recovered, according to Worldometers updates. The World Health Organisation warns that several European cities are facing a surge in the number of COVID-19 patients that require intensive care. A growing number of countries announce record-high number of cases. On Saturday, the Czech Republic confirmed over 11,000 new cases, Italy almost 11,000, the Netherlands and Germany 8,000 each. In London, a ban on households mixing indoors came into force on Saturday, after on Friday 15,000 new infections were confirmed in the UK. In 10 major cities in France, including Paris and its suburbs, a curfew is in place as of Saturday between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The measure will be in place for at least 4 weeks, amid a rise in the number of daily new cases to over 25,000. New restrictions are also introduced in Warsaw and other Polish cities included in a “red-zone: high-schools and colleges are switching to the online mode, restaurants will only be open until 9 PM, weddings are banned and the number of people entering shops, churches and public transport will be restricted.

SUMMIT The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis will take part on Monday in the Virtual Summit and Web Forum of the Three Seas Initiative, organised by Estonia. According to the Romanian Presidency, a report on smart connectivity will be released on this occasion. The Three Seas Initiative is a presidential-level political platform that brings together the 12 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). The initiative seeks to contribute to the economic development of the member states, by encouraging interconnectivity in 3 main sectors—transport, energy and digital, and to strengthening unity and cohesion within the EU.

DIPLOMACY Romanias foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu has political consultations in Washington on Monday with the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, as part of a visit to the US by the Romanian official at the invitation of his American counterpart. The visit takes place in the context of this years celebration of 140 years of diplomatic relations between the 2 countries. According to the Foreign Ministry, this is a “good opportunity to reconfirm the main coordinates of the strategic partnership. The talks between Bogdan Aurescu and Mike Pompeo will focus on bilateral cooperation in the political, military, energy and economic sectors, including strategic projects promoted by Romania under the Three Seas Initiative.

DEFENCE The Romanian Defence Ministry welcomes the approval by the US State Department of Romanias application for purchase of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence Systems. The clearing has been forwarded to the US Congress. The Naval Strike Missile is a sea-skimming, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile, and Romania wants to buy two of the systems under one of the 5 programmes in the Romanian Armys upgrade plan. The proposed sale will improve Romanias capability to meet current and future threats by improving Romanias maritime defence capabilities in the Black Sea.

ATTACK The president of France Emmanuel Macron Saturday announced national commemorative events for the 47-year old teacher killed by a young Chechen on Friday in an Islamist terror attack near Paris. Samuel Paty, who taught history and geography, was attacked because during a lesson on the freedom of speech he showed his students controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu sent a condolence message to the French teachers family and friends and firmly condemned the gruesome attack. Aurescu emphasised that Romania and France are “united in the fight against terror. According to the French investigators, the attacker was a legal refugee in France. (translated by: A. M. Popescu)

17 October 2020
October 17, 2020

VOTING The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu called on all Romanians living abroad to vote by mail, and reminded them that October 22 is the deadline for registration for this type of voting for the December 6 parliamentary election. Bogdan Aurescu warned that postal voting is the best way to protect Romanians health in the current pandemic. The foreign minister also says the full list of the documents required for voting is available on the ministrys home page in the section devoted to this years general election. The Foreign Ministry warned several times that some countries have restrictions in place, which will affect the number of polling stations that the Romanian authorities will be allowed to open abroad.

COVID-19 In Romania, a new record-high number of coronavirus infections in 24 hours has been reported—4026, according to the Strategic Communication Group. The overall number of cases is 172,516. Also, 75 more people died, taking the death toll to 5,749. A new negative record was also reported in terms of ICU patients—726. The authorities are seeking solutions to make sure as many hospitals as possible are involved in the fight against the pandemic. The head of the Department for Emergencies, Raed Arafat, said that according to experts this second wave of the pandemic may last throughout the winter. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, over 1,000 schools in the country operate exclusively online. The Education Ministry says over 11,300 schools still work in the face-to-face teaching system, while 5,235 schools use both in-person and online classes.

PANDEMIC The World Health Organisation warns that several European cities are facing a surge in the number of COVID-19 patients that require intensive care, and that ICUs may reach their full capacity in the coming weeks. NATO is prepared to provide assistance to Europe. According to the deputy secretary general of the Alliance, Mircea Geoană (Romania), NATO already has a special fund and logistical support plans in place for member and partner states. He explained that NATOs main concern is for the current healthcare crisis not to turn into a security crisis. France Press reports new restrictions introduced across Europe. In London, a ban on households mixing indoors came into force on Saturday, after on Friday 15,000 new infections were confirmed in the UK. In 10 major cities in France, including Paris and its suburbs, a curfew is in place as of Saturday between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The measure will be in place for at least 4 weeks, amid a rise in the number of daily new cases to over 25,000. New restrictions are also introduced in Warsaw and other Polish cities included in a “red-zone: high-schools and colleges are switching to the online mode, restaurants will only be open until 9 PM, weddings are banned and the number of people entering shops, churches and public transport will be restricted.

DATATHON Romania won the first prize in the 4th challenge, “A Europe fit for the digital age, in the EU Datathons online final. The Romanian teams submission, which also won a check for 12,000 euro, is called Digital Dryads, and is designed to protect forests from illegal logging using spectral analysis, machine learning and state-of-the-art satellite imagery produced under the EU Copernicus programme. The EU Datathon is an annual competition inviting original ideas on how to exploit EU Open Data.

DEFENCE The Romanian Defence Ministry welcomes the approval by the US State Department of Romanias application for purchase of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence Systems. The clearing has been forwarded to the US Congress. The Naval Strike Missile is a sea-skimming, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile, and Romania wants to buy two of the systems under one of the 5 programmes in the Romanian Armys upgrade plan. The proposed sale will improve Romanias capability to meet current and future threats by improving Romanias maritime defence capabilities in the Black Sea.

LITERATURE A Romanian-British literature festival is held online and in London as of today until November 13. Entitled Romania Rocks, the event brings together Romanian and British authors and translators, and is designed to promote Romanian literature around the world. All events may be accessed free of charge on the communication channels of the Romanian Cultural Institute and the European Literature Network. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

17 October 2020
October 16, 2020

COVID-19 All county and city hospitals in Romania that are not currently treating COVID-19 patients will have to set aside beds for coronavirus patients, in case the pandemic requires additional capacities. According to the health minister Nelu Tătaru, each hospital will have to earmark 10% of the ICU capacity and 15% of the other wards for this purpose. On Thursday Bucharest extended the state of alert by another 30 days. 4,013 new cases were reported in the 24 hours since the previous update in Romania, taking the total number to 168,490, according to the Strategic Communication Group. Thursday was the second day in a row with more that 4,000 cases in Romania. Authorities also announced 73 deaths, which takes the death toll to 5,674. A new negative record of 721 patients are currently in intensive care.

PANDEMIC Europe has reported the largest weekly number of coronavirus cases so far, and the World Health Organisation warns that daily death tolls may be in April 2021 4-5 times higher than this spring. Seventeen countries, including Romania, out of the 27 member states plus the UK are included in a European “red zone. After a record-high daily rate of over 30,000 new coronavirus cases, France is introducing tonight travel restrictions in Paris and other 8 major cities on maximum pandemic alert. Bars and restaurants in Catalonia, Spain are closed down for at least 2 weeks, and more restrictions are introduced to contain the epidemic. Poland closes gyms and indoor pools today, while in Ireland pubs and restaurants will only provide take away services. Hotels will no longer receive tourists, with several exceptions, and hair salons are closing. The total death toll worldwide is over 1.1 million, according to Worldometers.

SUMMIT Outlining common measures and criteria to contain the COVID-19 pandemic is the key topic discussed in Brussels today at the summit of EU heads of state and government. Participants will also discuss the social and economic impact of the pandemic and the need for economic recovery. In this context, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis will express concerns with the steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases at EU level, and will plead for enhanced cooperation between member states. Iohannis will also argue in favour of reinstating as soon as possible the freedom of movement in the Union, and of keeping supply flows open between member states.

VISIT The PM of Romania Ludovic Orban announced he would make an official visit to France at the end of this month, together with several other Cabinet members. The main topic on the agenda is to sign a roadmap for the Strategic Partnership between the 2 countries, but participants will also discuss military cooperation, the Romanian Government announced. Orban also said that in the first half of November he would travel to Israel, and at the end of November to Germany, but the programme of the later visit is still being discussed.

FESTIVAL In Romania, Astra Film Festival is taking place online, with 41 documentaries to be available as of today until October 25. Ten of these are competing in a section entitled “Emerging documentary voices, and another 10 in the “Central and Eastern Europe competition. Moreover, Romanian documentary fans may see 10 of the most highly appreciated films in the 2020 Open Air Astra Film Festival and another 11 films from the festival archive. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

16 October 2020