COVID-19 19,371
new Covid cases and 48 related deaths have been reported in Romania today. The
number of fatalities is over 10 times smaller than at the peak of the previous
wave of the pandemic, but the infection rate continues to grow, reaching 8.77
per thousand in Bucharest. The highest SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in the capital
city (16.54 per thousand) was reached on 22nd October last year. The
worst-case scenario considered by the authorities predicts up to 70,000 new
cases per day in the first half of February. The health minister Alexandru
Rafila says that 173 outpatient Covid-19 evaluation centres are already
operational across the country, out of a planned 230.
NATO On Friday
NATO rejected Russia’s request for the pull-out of the Alliance’s troops in
Bulgaria and Romania, and denounced the concept of spheres of influence, NATO
spokesperson Oana Lungescu said. Russia requested guarantees from the US and
NATO that the Alliance would not enlarge further eastwards, and demanded the
withdrawal of the troops and equipment deployed to the countries that have
joined the organisation since 1997. Also on Friday, the Pentagon announced a
large-scale NATO naval exercise in the Mediterranean, amid tensions with
Russia, which also announced major naval manoeuvres, AFP reports. Poland’s PM
Mateusz Morawiecki called on European leaders to take a firm and united stand
against Russia, in the context of fears that Moscow might plan an invasion of
Ukraine. NATO members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will provide Ukraine with
US-made anti-armour and anti-aircraft missiles, the defence ministers of the 3
countries announced in a joint statement. In Romania, president Klaus Iohannis
has called a meeting of the Supreme Defence Council on Wednesday. The meeting
will focus on the security situation at the Black Sea and on NATO’s eastern
flank, and measures to develop resilience and response capabilities related to
the new security challenges.
CELEBRATION
The government of Romania celebrates today 160 years since the first government
of Romania was formed, after the union of the principalities of Moldavia and
Wallachia was officially recognised. On this occasion, on the walls of Victoria
Palace in the capital city Bucharest, which hosts the head offices of the
government of Romania, images will be projected during the evening, which are
relevant for this milestone in Romanian history, such as the Romanian flag, the
date when the first government of Romania was formed, namely 22nd of
January, 1862 and the name of the country’s first prime minister, Barbu
Catargiu. On Monday, which is a national holiday in Romania, 163 years since
the union of the Romanian Principalities will be marked. On 24th
January 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, elected ruler of Moldavia the previous week,
was unanimously elected sovereign of Wallachia as well, and proclaimed ruler of
the United Principalities. During his rule, the institutional foundations were
laid for modern Romania.
SOCIAL Romania’s capital city Bucharest finds itself without above-ground public
transportation means on Saturday as well. It is for 3rd consecutive
day of strike for the Bucharest Transport Corporation, although a court ruled
the protest illegal. Unions stand by their demands, which include pay raises
and the resignation of the corporation’s CEO. Meanwhile, the government and
trade unions in public education are working to reach an agreement by 4th
February, following a first round of negotiations after teachers went on strike
on Wednesday. Unionists want pay raises, additional staff to be employed, and
6% of GDP to be earmarked for public education. Public healthcare unions are
also to discuss their demands next week with officials from the healthcare,
finances and labour ministries.
TENNIS The
Romanian tennis player Simona Halep qualified in the round of 16 of the
Australian Open, after defeating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro, 6-2, 6-1, in the
3rd round of the tournament in Melbourne today. Halep (15 WTA and 14th
seed), won the match in 64 minutes. It was the 8th consecutive win
for the Romanian player this season. In the next round Simona Halep takes on Alizé Cornet of France (61 WTA). Also
today, another Romanian, Sorana Cîrstea, is playing in the 3rd round
against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, seed no 10. In the women’s doubles,
Jaqueline Cristian (Romania) / Andrea Petkovic (Germany) qualified in the 8th-finals,
having defeated the Slovenians Kaja Juvan / Tamara Zidansek, 6-4, 6-0, and are
next to play agaist Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) / Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain). (tr. A.M. Popescu)