4 June 2020, UPDATE

A look at some of the main stories in Romania today.

Newsroom, 04.06.2020, 20:00

Coronavirus
Romania. Romania has around 20,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. Some 14,000
people have recovered and 1,305 have died. Among the Romanians living abroad,
there are 3,100 cases and 114 deaths, mostly in the UK, Italy, and France. Health
Minister Nelu Tataru on Wednesday said that the test aimed at determining the
level of immunisation to the virus would be carried out on 29,000 subjects
during the months of June, July and August. According to the minister, while a
vaccine may potentially become available mid next year, it would be difficult
to introduce compulsory vaccination without a test period of two or three
seasons.

Coronavirus
world. Global coronavirus infections pass 6.6 million. Some 3.2 million people have
recovered and 388,000 have died, according to worldometers.info. Brazil is
the fourth worst hit country in the world, with the highest death toll after
the United States, the UK and Italy. The pandemic is in fact growing in Latin
America, with some 1.2 million infections and over 56,000 deaths. In Europe, the Spanish
Parliament extended the state of emergency for the 6th time, until
21st June. On Thursday, Austria will lift checks on its land borders
with the exception of the Italian border. Earlier, Germany also announced plans
to lift the travel ban to and from EU countries beginning on 15th
June as long as the respective countries don’t have in place a ban of their
own. China will allow airlines so far restricted to operate on its
territory to partly resume services, while also easing travel restrictions.
This comes as Washington has threatened to suspend all flights operated by
Chinese airlines to and from the United States beginning on 16th
June.

Government. The government met on Thursday in
Bucharest to discus new measures for economic recovery and preserving jobs. The
agenda featured a programme to support large companies by
guaranteeing commercial loans. Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said he would use
all the instruments available to support investments, including through the
creation of a fund of capitalised investments drawing on budget sources or
European funds, if possible. Florin Citu said during the meeting that Romania
would have to submit a 393 million euro guarantee to be able to attract 5
billion euros as part of the European Union’s SURE programme to encourage
employment. This is the maximum amount Romania can attract under this programme
and which Bucharest has communicated to Brussels, Citu also said.

Recession. The European Central Bank expects the eurozone to suffer deep
recession this year because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with losses
to be only partly recovered next year. The eurozone GDP is expected to shrink
by 8.7% this year and go up by 5.2% next year and 3.3% in 2022, according to
the president of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, who warned that
the risks may compromise these estimates. The Bank’s forecast also indicates a
eurozone inflation rate of 0.3% this year compared with the previous forecast
of 1.1%, and of 0.8% next year and 1.3% in 2022. The European Commission’s
spring forecast published on 6th May expected the eurozone to shrink
by a record 7.7% this year before seeing a 6.3% growth next year.

Festival.
Postponed because of the coronavirus restrictions, the 19th edition
of the Transylvania Film Festival will now take place between 31st
July and 9th August. The line-up will feature many outdoor
screenings, a holiday atmosphere and a programme adapted to the current
context. The outdoor screenings will be held in dedicated areas and chairs will
be placed at a distance from each other. Spectators will be screened when
entering the venues. The programme of indoor screenings will be published after
the government makes public its new guidelines with respect to cinemas. Organisers
are hoping that Romania will follow the example of most European countries to
allow cinemas to reopen provided they operate at no more than 50% capacity. (CM)