October 31, 2020 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 31.10.2020, 19:15
COVID-19 RO. 5,753 new cases of infection with the new coronavirus were reported on Saturday in Romania, following 36,181 tests processed at national level, according to data published by the Strategic Communication Group. Since the beginning of the pandemic 241,339 people have been infected in Romania. A new maximum has been reached in intensive care where 923 patients are now hospitalized. In the last 24 hours, 101 people died, and the total number of deaths due to COVID 19 is close to 7,000. Most new cases were registered in Bucharest: 594. The infection index exceeded four cases per thousand inhabitants in 4 counties: Cluj, Alba, Salaj and Timis. The Minister of Health, Nelu Tătaru, believes that if the hygiene rules and the restrictions imposed by the pandemic are observed, Romania could reach a plateau in approximately 28 days.
PANDEMIC. More than 46 million cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed at global level and almost 1.2 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. The United States has reported more than 9 million infections and 235,000 deaths, followed by India with more than 8 million cases and 121,000 deaths. At least 14 European countries have reached a record number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations this week. Great Britain has exceeded one millon cases, with some 22 thousand reported in 24 hours. On Saturday, Poland reported a daily record of more than 21,000 cases and Germany registered more than 19,000 new cases of coronavirus infection. In the face of the second coronavirus wave, more and more countries are tightening restrictions and even imposing quarantines. Starting Monday, Belgium suspends all non-essential activities. Similar decisions have been made in Ireland and France. Several other countries have imposed local or regional quarantine. Stricter measures will be applied in Iceland from Saturday. Sports events and shows are prohibited, and swimming pools, bars and nightclubs are closed. Slovakia has started a population-wide COVID-19 testing operation, which will be carried out in two stages by means of rapid antigen tests, the results of which are ready in less than 15 minutes.
HALEP. Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, currently ranking second in the WTA classification, has announced, in a post on Twitter, that she tested positive for the new coronavirus. She is self-isolated at home, with mild symptoms, and her recovery is going well. This year, Halep has won three singles titles in Dubai, Prague and Rome
EC. The European Commission calls on Romania to fully transpose into national law the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora, which contributes to the protection of biodiversity in the EU. According to a EC communiqu, Bucharest has two months to remedy the situation. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion. Romanian legislation does not have, among other things, clear provisions regarding natural habitats. In line with the European Green Pact and the Biodiversity Strategy, it is essential that the Union halts the loss of biodiversity by improving and restoring ecosystems, the European Commission explains on its website.
RAILWAY. As of 31 October, the European railway sector will benefit from new harmonized procedures to reduce costs and administrative burdens aimed at increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of European railways. According to a statement from the EC representation in Romania, the new rules will generate more innovation in this sector, facilitating the operation of railway companies and operators or the sale of new technologies in several European countries. These rules complement the Fourth Railway Package, a series of measures aimed at increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of European railways. In addition, the package stipulates that the European Union Agency for Railways will play a more important role, becoming today responsible for vehicle licensing, safety certification and approvals for land projects related to the European rail traffic management system in all Member States.
EARTQUAKE. In Turkey, rescue teams in the city of Izmir continue to search for possible survivors through the ruins of buildings that collapsed after the 6.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday in the Aegean Sea. Dozens of peopel have died and about 100 have been rescued from the rubble. Twenty large buildings collapsed in the city. The quake also affected mainland Greece and the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, especially Samos, where two teenagers were killed by a wall that fell on them. The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has sent a message of solidarity to Turkey and Greece.
CONNERY. Scottish actor Sean Connery died on Saturday, aged 90. The actor enjoyed a long career crowned with numerous awards, including an Oscar, two Bafta awards and three Golden Globes. Sean Connery gained international fame in 1962 as the legendary British spy James Bond, after starring in several television movies. Among the films in which the Scottish actor stood out was Marnie (1964) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, The Man Who Would be King (1975) with Michael Caine, directed by John Huston, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) directed by Steven Spielberg and The Hunt for Red October (1990).
SONORO. SoNoRo International Chamber Music Festival celebrates 15 years with a series of concerts broadcast live from concert halls. Thus, starting Saturdayuntil December 9, musical events will be broadcast from concert halls in Brașov, Busteni, Sibiu and Bucharest. According to the organizers, those interested can access these concerts on the online platform called festival.sonoro.ro live section, but also on Facebook, on the pages of the Romanian Cultural Institute or Radio Romania Music. (M. Ignatescu)
