May 18, 2020
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 18.05.2020, 13:55
Covid-19 RO. Another three people infected with the new coronavirus have died in Romania, raising the death-toll to 1,107, the Strategic Communication Group has announced today. The total number of infections has reached 16,900. Some 9,900 people have been cured. As regards Romanians living abroad, some 3 thousand have been infected, mostly in Italy, Spain and Germany, and 103 have died of Covid-19.
Pandemic. Some 4.8 million people have been infected with the new coronavirus around the world, and 316 thousand have died. 1.8 million people have been declared cured. The US remains the most affected country in the world, with more than 1.5 million cases of infection and some 90 thousand deaths. In Europe, the countries most severely hit by the pandemic remain Great Britain, with some 35 thousand dead, Italy with more than 31 thousand, followed by France and Spain with approximately 28 thousand dead. Italy enters today the second stage of restriction lifting. In 19 regions out of 20, shops, restaurants, bars, museums, beauty shops and churches are to reopen as of today. Citizens can travel, but only within the same region, and have to wear protective masks and observe the social distancing rules. In Germany, too, restrictions have been eased in several lands.
State of Alert. The state of alert law has come into force in Romania today. It was first adopted by the Chamber of Deputies and then promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. The state of alert replaces the state of emergency, instated by decree two months ago, in order to combat the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the new law, the state of alert cannot exceed 30 days and it can only be extended for grounded reasons, at the proposal of the Interior Ministry. The head of state has reiterated the importance of social distancing and of observing the rules in place. For 30 days, people must wear protective masks in all shopping areas, public means of transport, at work and other public enclosed areas. People are allowed to leave home and travel inside the localities they live in, without having to fill in a self-declaration. Those who wish to leave their home locality though, will have to present such a declaration.
Decision. The Romanian Government convened this morning to adopt a decision regarding the application of the state of alert law in Romania. The document includes measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus and new sanctions for those who fail to observe the rules already established by authorities. PM Ludovic Orban has stated that the coming period is going to be one of extreme alert and all tools are in place in order to secure the observance of the rules set with the aim of protecting citizens lives and health. Also, the Prime Minister has announced that he will have talks this evening with representatives of all the institutions with control responsibilities, in order to draw up a plan by means of which the measures provided as part of the state of alert will be fully implemented.
Motion. The Romanian Senate is debating today the simple motion filed by the opposition Social Democratic Party against the Agriculture Minister Adrian Oros. The Social Democrat Petre Daea, a former holder of the office, claims that, since the coming of the Orban Liberal Government, the normal course of programmes in agriculture has been disrupted. Hes drawn attention to the fact that farmers are in a difficult situation, also because authorities have either blocked or delayed several running projects. Also, the Social Democrats blame the agriculture minister for failing to take concrete measures to address drought and the export of cereals during the health crisis. In turn, Adrian Oros has stated that the motion filed by the Social Democratic Party is evidence of the fact that he bothered groups of interests, which had controlled the ministry in the past years. The Social Democratic Party has announced it will file more motions, against other members of the Government, more specifically against those holding the education, health and interior portfolios.
Humanitarian mission. Seven people from the Romanian team that went on a humanitarian mission to the Republic of Moldova have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Four of them are medical staff. All patients are asymptomatic and are being treated in the country. Romania has sent dozens of doctors and nurses to the neighboring Moldova to help treat the patients there. This month, a convoy of 20 trucks carrying medical supplies worth 3.5 million Euros has reached the neighboring country, alongside a medical team. In early April, a team of 11 doctors and 6 nurses participated in a similar mission in Italy.
DOK.fest. Acasa.At Home, the debut film of the Romanian director Radu Ciorniciuc, has won the grand prize at the DOK.fest Munich festival, which has reached its 35th edition. The film tells the story of a family that lived in the Vacaresti Delta, in wilderness, though in the middle of Bucharest, for 20 years, until the place got the status of protected area. The world premiere of the documentary took place at the 42nd Sundance Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for photography, in the World Cinema Documentary section. (M.Ignatescu)
