May 1, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news.

Newsroom, 01.05.2021, 20:00

HOLIDAY – It is important to always be aware of how difficult has been, throughout history, to win rights which we are now taking for granted, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in a message on the occasion of the World Labor Day. Hard work and the sacrifice of men and women are celebrated around the world, the head of state said. He pointed out that we have the chance, in the post-Covid Romania, to build the country we all want. We are a nation of hard working, ambitious and determined people and, in keeping with it, we will re-launch economy to the benefit of all of us, he also said. During Easter and Labor Day security forces are present in large numbers in tourist resorts in the mountains and at the seaside and around churches. More than 30,000 visitors are expected to spend the Labor Day and Easter holiday on the Black Sea shores. Some 100 hotels opened for this occasion, many of which are already 70% full, which is the maximum level allowed by the authorities. Partying on the beach is not permitted, and wearing face masks is mandatory.

CORONAVIRUS –The
number of new cases of COVID- 19 and related deaths continues to decline in
Romania. On Saturday, the line authorities confirmed more than 1,300 new cases in the past 24 hours and
reported 85 related fatalities. Over 8,000 people coronavirus
patients are hospitalized and 1,277 are treated in intensive care units. Bucharest
is no longer in the red zone, after the
14-day incidence rate dropped below 3 cases per 1,000 residents. The capital city
and 16 counties are now in the yellow zone, whereas the rest of the country is
in the green zone. In the meantime, the Covid
vaccination campaign that began on December 27, 2020 continues. An increasing
number of towns and cities around the country are hosting events and activities
meant to facilitate access to vaccination. Four drive-through vaccination sites
opened in Bucharest, Deva (in the west of the country), Cluj Napoca (in the
north-west) and Arad (in the west). More than 3.3 million Romanians have been
vaccinated so far.

WITHDRAWAL – The Romanian Army, which on May 1st started the withdrawal of its military from Afghanistan, participated in the last 19 years, in missions in one of the most difficult and complex theatre of operations in the world, not just for Romania but also for NATO, having proved its professionalism, Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Saturday. He pointed out that the missions of the Romanian military in Afghanistan have added value to the training of the entire army. Romania has today started pulling out its 615 military and 80 tons of logistics from Afghanistan, at the same time with other NATO allies. As many as 27 Romanian military died and 200 were injured in anti-terror missions in Afghanistan, launched after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the US, when Bucharest was not yet a NATO member.

TENNIS – The Romanian Ukrainian team Raluca Olaru/Nadia Kicenok qualified on Saturday to the fourth round of the Madrid WTA tennis tournament, worth 2.5 million euros in prize money and will be up against Halep will play on Sunday against the Croatian American pair Petra Martic/Shelby Rogers. World no. 3 Simona Halep of Romania on Friday defeated Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets to reach the second round. Halep will play on Sunday against Chinese Saisai Zheng, world no. 57. The Romanian won the Madrid tournament twice, in 2016 and 2017 and lost the final in 2014 and 2019. (EE)