May 27, 2020 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 27.05.2020, 19:43

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – The
coronavirus death toll in Romania stands at 1.223 people. 165 new cases have
been reported in the last 24h, bringing their total number to some 18.600, the
Group for Strategic Communication announced. Over 90% of the victims had at
least one other medical condition, the National Institute for Public Health
reports. Over 3.000 Romanians abroad have tested positive for SARS CoV-2, the
highest numbers being reported in Italy, Spain, Germany, Great Britain and
France. Of them 100 have died. 30 hospitals in Romania have been aproved for
taking part in a study on plasma-based treatment. Plasma taken from patients
who have recovered after being infected with COVID can be administered to
patients in critical condition only in certain circumstances.

COVID-19 WORLDWIDE – The total
number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 5.7 million globally.
352.000 people have died to the virus, while over 2.4 million patients have
recovered. The death toll in the United States has exceeded 100.000, while
Brazil has reported 1.000 deaths in 24h. The death toll has risen to 37.000 in
Great Britain, while the virus has killed 33.000 people in Italy. Spain has
begun a 10-day mourning period for the victims of COVID-19, some 27.000 people.
On the other hand, European countries continue to ease restrictions. As of
today, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary have reopened their common
borders with special travel conditions. Beaches have reopened in Spain and the
United States, while Japan has lifted the state of emergency. Mosques in Iran
are now open, while people in Greece can again eat in taverns and restaurants.
Austria has authorized sports activities with a maximum number of 300 people,
while in Moscow shops will reopen and people can go for short walks around the
city. Poland has sanctioned public gatherings with a maximum number of 150
people.

DEFENSE – Public policies in
the field of national security will be conceived and implemented to the benefit
of the citizen only, so Romanians should feel safe and trust the institutions
are there to defend and protect them, President Klaus Iohannis said on the
sidelines of the country’s Supreme Defense Council meeting. On Tuesday the
Council adopted the 2020-2024 National Defense Strategy. The strategy was
devised to deal with a pandemic that affected the entire world and has
generated a profound economic crisis, the President pointed out. The strategy
also tackles foreign policy, public order, education, healthcare, the economy,
the environment, energy security and cyber security. The Strategic Partnership
with the US as well as our country’s NATO and EU membership have been confirmed
as pillars of Romania’s foreign policy. The Council also decided to deploy
1.940 military and civilians for external operations and missions.

RECOVERY
PLAN – The European Commission wants Member States to back a €2.4 trillion economic recovery plan,
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The bailout package consists of
loans under three financial chapters as well as non-refundable aid. One
instrument, dubbed Next Generation EU, amounts to €750 billion, will address
the countries the most affected by the pandemic. Romania has been allotted €33
billion. The plan has been met with reluctance in the Netherlands, Denmark,
Austria and Sweden, the so-called Frugal Four, who are reluctant to give away
money as grants. The Commission will discuss the plan at the EU Summit of June
18-19.

ECONOMY
– The Government has adopted several measures to help the business sector
recover after the COVID pandemic. One measure is meant to simplify a financial
rescue plan addressing SMEs. The measures adopted in the last two months and a
half have had a huge impact on the budget, tantamount to 1.5% of the GDP,
Finance Minister Florin Citu has said. The Government has also greenlit the
disbursement of additional funds to cover lockdown-related costs and other
measures in the field of healthcare.

MOTION -
In Bucharest the Chamber of Deputies passed the simple motion against Education
Minister Monica Anisie. Filed by the Social-Democratic Party and the leftist
Pro Romania Party, both in opposition, the document claims Minister Anisie has
brought the education system on the verge of chaos due to her incompetence or
disinterest. The opposition wants the Education Minister gone, saying she lacks
vision and strategy. In turn, Monica Anisie claims the education system cannot
navigate the challenges faced by the current generation, as it is held back by
conservative canons that undervalue students’ skills. The Minister rebuked
former Social-Democratic Education Minister for their failure to implement
e-schooling.

(Translated by V. Palcu & E. Enache)