April 18, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 18.04.2021, 20:00

COVID-19 – Another 2,265 new
cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in the last 24 hours in Romania, the
Group for Strategic Communication announced on Sunday. During the interval
another 160 fatalities were reported, taking the national death toll to 26.232.
Over a million people got infected with SARS-CoV-2 since the start of the
pandemic last year, 90% of whom have recovered.

VACCINATION – Some 2.6 million
people have taken at least one shot of anti-COVID-19 vaccine, of whom over 1.6
million have taken both doses of the vaccine, the authorities in Bucharest have
announced. Some 300,000 people working in the medical field have taken the
COVID-19 vaccine, 90% of whom have taken both shots. The evolution of the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shows a significant drop in the weekly number of cases,
from 70/day before the start of the vaccination campaign, to a little under
20/day right now. Authorities say the data is indicative of the importance and
necessity of vaccination to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and recall that the
administration of one of the serums approved at EU level is free of charge and
voluntary. The Romanian Defense Ministry is preparing mobile vaccination
centers for immunizing people in rural or remote areas. 20 such centers will
become operational starting next week in areas organized by local authorities
or in medical containers, which will be provided by the National State Reserve
Administration. The capacity of vaccination flows at the level of the Defense
Ministry is also expected to increase.

COALITION – The center-right
ruling coalition made up of the National Liberal Party – PNL, the Save Romania
Union – PLUS Alliance – USR-PLUS, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians
in Romania – UDMR, is convening on Monday in its first session after last
week’s demise of USR-PLUS Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu. USR-PLUS leaders
have criticized Prime Minister Florin Cîţu’s decision to sack Voiculescu
and called for an emergency meeting of the ruling coalition to discuss the
withdrawal of political support for the Prime Minister. In turn, PNL and UDMR
leaders have expressed support for Florin Cîţu, underlining that USR-PLUS must
come up with a new proposal for the Health Ministry. On Friday, in a press
conference after his demise, Vlad Voiculescu made serious accusations targeting
the Prime Minister and other Liberal leaders, claiming that he found numerous
flaws in the system since his appointment, which proves the central and local
authorities’ mismanagement of the pandemic. Voiculescu accused Florin Cîţu of
negligence and refusing to engage in a dialogue over the problems in the health
system.

DIPLOMACY – Foreign Minister
Bogdan Aurescu on Monday is attending a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers held in
videoconference format. The EU officials will also discuss the developments in
Ukraine and exchange views with their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
According to the Romanian MFA, Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania’s support
for Ukraine’s European integration efforts and encourage the developments of
efforts to conduct reforms to the benefit of all citizens. Additionally,
Minister Aurescu will highlight Romania’s support for Ukraine’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, the Romanian official will express
concern over Russia’s deployment of military equipment and troops in Crimea on
Ukraine’s easter border and in the Black Sea region.

EXERCISE -
Some 15,000 military from Romania and allied and partner states will take part,
over May-June, in the Dacia 21 Livex exercise hosted by Romania. The exercise
is part of the joint training timetable, the Defense Ministry reports. The
first troops and equipment to arrive in Romania this week were 120 British
military and 55 vehicles. Dacia 21 Livex confirms Romania’s capacity to engage
in defensive operations, as well as the permanent availability of allied and
partner countries to swiftly deploy considerable forces to Romania with a view
to defending the country against any potential threat to its national security.
Additionally, Ministry officials say, Dacia 21 Livex will also probe Romanian
support to military forces and equipment transiting national territory.

POLICE
BRUTALITY – Two police officers were detained for 24 hours in a
criminal investigation into the death of a man who passed away on Friday
in Piteşti while he was being evacuated by the police from a restaurant during
a fire. The autopsy report revealed the death was violent and was the result of
polytrauma in the neck and chest areas. The police are now investigating a
possible battery resulting in death, which is punishable by 6-12 years in
prison. Prime Minister Florin
Cîţu on Sunday called on Interior Minister, Lucian Bode, to conduct a swift
inquiry and said the guilty must be held accountable. (V.P.)