October 3, 2021 UPDATE

A news update

Newsroom, 03.10.2021, 19:22

Covid – In Romania, the government has approved a decision under which people vaccinated against COVID and those who have recovered from the disease in the last six months are exempted from several restrictions that apply in localities where the incidence rate threshold exceeds 6 cases per thousand inhabitants. Bucharest and over 40 other cities across Romania, as well as more than 200 communes are in this situation. Public and private events can take place in these localities only with a low participation rate, access being allowed only to vaccinated people or people who have recovered from the disease, who will have to wear protective masks. These two categories are also allowed to go to restaurants or gyms, as well as to travel during the weekend or night quarantine. The new regulations were a source of dissatisfaction for thousands of people who took to the streets on Saturday without keeping the physical distance, without wearing protective masks and without respecting the limit of participation in such demonstrations. The protesters marched through the center of the capital, protested in front of the Government headquarters and, later, some of them went to the Presidential Palace. They chanted messages against vaccination and the introduction of the green certificate and also demanded the resignation of the government, of the head of the Committee for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, and of president Iohannis. The protests took place on the day with the highest number of Covid cases reported in Romania – almost 12,600. Over 8,700 new cases were reported on Sunday and 150 Covid-associated deaths. 1,440 people are in ICUs. The high number of contaminations boosted the vaccination campaign. On Sunday more than 30 thousand doses were administered of which half accounted for the 3rd dose.

Rome — In Italy, more than 12 million eligible voters are called to the polls on Sunday and Monday in about 1,200 localities, including major cities such as Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Bologna and Trieste, where partial local elections are being held. There is also a vote for a new governor in Calabria. More than 120 Romanians, the highest number reported so far, are running for the positions of councilor in these local elections. Romanians, who make up the largest community of foreigners in Italy, have the right to vote and be elected councilors in their cities of residence. They also rely on the votes of Italians, especially since very few Romanians will be able to vote, as they do not have a voter ID card.

Table tennis – The Romanian womens table tennis team was defeated, on Sunday, by Germany’s team, 1-3, in the final of the European Championship held in Cluj Napoca. The Romanians have won the continental title twice. In 2017, in Luxembourg, when Romania won the final with Germany, score 3-2. And in 2019, in Nantes (France), when the Romanian athletes defeated Portugal 3-0 in the final.

Plane crash – Two Romanian citizens are among the people who died in the crash, on Sunday, of a small plane near Milan, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reports. According to the information provided by the Italian authorities to the representatives of the Romanian consular office in Milan, the investigations carried out so far, show that two Romanian citizens, with dual citizenship are among the deceased. The General Consulate of Romania in Milan is in permanent dialogue with the local authorities, being prepared to provide consular assistance, according to legal competences, including on specific procedures, facilitating the repatriation of dead bodies and issuing death certificates respectively. According to Italian police, all 8 people on board, including a child, have died. The pilot of the plane had dual citizenship, Romanian and German, according to Radio Romania. The plane was flying to Sardinia Island, from Linate Airport, Milan. The Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration ROMATSA announces that the tragic event will be investigated by the Italian authorities, and Romania will appoint an accredited representative for this investigation.

Insolvencies – In Romania, over 38,000 companies and self-employed persons went into insolvency in the first 8 months of the year, over 7% more compared to the same period of 2020, show data published on the website of the National Trade Register Office. Most insolvent companies were registered in Bucharest and in the counties of Cluj, Bihor and Timiş, with the counties of Harghita, Covasna and Tulcea being at the opposite pole. The highest number of insolvencies by fields of activity was recorded in wholesale and retail trade, automobile repair shops, and the construction and manufacturing industries. (LS)