December 14, 2021

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Newsroom, 14.12.2021, 14:04

COVID-19 Authorities in Bucharest on Tuesday
announced 946 new Covid-19 infections, a number significantly higher than in
the previous day. 106 new Covid-related fatalities have also been announced and
the 14-day infection rate in Bucharest on Tuesday stood at 0.85 cases per
thousand. Bucharest reported its highest infection rate on October 22nd,
16.54 per thousand. According to Romania’s national committee in charge of
COVID-19 vaccine rollout, 25% of the rural population has been vaccinated so
far and over 42% in Romania’s big cities.

SURVEY Life expectancy has dropped significantly
in Romania against the COVID-19 pandemic, way below the EU average, shows a
survey recently conducted by the European Commission. According to this survey,
life expectancy in Romania is almost 6 years lower than in the EU and women
have on an average an 8 year longer lifespan than men, the biggest difference
in the bloc. The same survey reveals that almost half of the deaths registered
in Romania are related to some risk factors such as the exaggerated consumption
of alcohol and unhealthy food, above that of the block’s average. Romania’s
teenagers are overweight, even obese and are smoking more than their European
counterparts although the number of smokers is slightly lower than the European
average.

HANDBALL The national
women’s handball side of Romania was defeated by the Swedish selection 34-30 in
Castello on Monday night in its last game of the World Championships in Spain. Out
of this group, Sweden and Norway have qualified for the competition’s next
stage, the latter after a win against world champions the Netherlands. Romania
has ended the competition on the 13th position being the only handball side to
have attended all the 25 editions of the aforementioned competition with four
medals won, a gold, two silver and a bronze medal.

SUMMIT On Wednesday and Thursday Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis is
participating in the online Eastern Partnership Summit and the European Council
proceedings held in Brussels. Yesterday, the Romanian official joined an online
conference also involving the participation of the head of the European Council
Charles Michel and the Prime Ministers of Slovenia, Janez Jansa, Estonia, Kaja
Kallas and Latvia, Krisjanis Karins in preparation for the aforementioned two
events. High on the agenda were European coordination in the context of the
Covid-19 pandemic, how to handle and develop resilience in emergency
situations, energy prices, the EU security and defence, the external aspects of
migration and foreign relations with emphasis on the situation at the border of
Ukraine and Belarus.

(bill)