May 3, 2021

Bucharest reopens restaurants and performance venues indoors following drop in Covid infection rate./ World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on 3rd May.

Newsroom, 03.05.2021, 13:52

Pandemic Romania. 682 new coronavirus cases and
98 related fatalities were recorded in Romania on Monday, with more than 1,200
Covid patients still in intensive care. Bucharest and 13 of Romania’s 41
counties are in the so-called amber zone, with the rest in the green zone. The
incidence rate continued to drop in Bucharest to hit 2.62 cases per 1,000
residents, which allows restaurants and performance venues to reopen for
business indoors at 30% capacity beginning on Monday. The Bucharest prefect
Alin Stoica said all businesses, including performance venues and restaurants,
can stay open until 9 pm. People’s night-time movement outside their homes is
still not allowed after 10 pm. The restrictions in place will next be reviewed
when the incidence rate hits 1.5 cases per 1,000 residents, when a further
relaxation is expected. Performance venues and restaurants will be able to open
at 50% capacity and outdoor events with a maximum of 300 spectators will be
allowed at that point. More than 1 million people have had the virus in Romania
since the first case was reported on 26th February last year and
more than 28,000 have died.

Press freedom.
On World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May, prime minister Florin Cîţu urged
journalists to continue to work with the authorities in efforts to provide
accurate information and raise awareness about vaccination. He thanked
journalists for their work during the pandemic, saying it is vital in combating
misinformation about the virus and vaccination. I wish you to remain free and
independent, on the side of truth and public good and to provide accurate
information to the public, the prime minister posted on his Facebook page. 3rd
May was declared World Press Freedom Day on 23rd December 1993 by
the UN General Assembly following a recommendation adopted by UNESCO in 1991.
The day highlights the need and importance of respecting freedom of expression,
which is a fundamental human right. On Sunday, the EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said 76 journalists were
killed since 2020, and many more were arrested, harassed or threatened
worldwide. He said that of particular concern is gender-based violence
targeting women journalists. The EU official said that press freedom means
security for all and defined it as a fundamental right of democratic societies
that can only prosper if citizens have access to credible information so that
they can take informed decisions. EU will also continue its action to counter
disinformation and seek with all partners effective means to support
sustainable business models for independent media, Borrell also said.

Easter. Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians
in majority-Orthodox Romania and around the world celebrate Easter, which lasts
three days. On the second day of Easter, on Monday, churches held the same
service as on Saturday night. In Romania, the faithful were allowed to attend
the Easter service not only outdoors, but also inside, as the authorities made
an exception from ongoing restrictions. Also, the night-time curfew was lifted
on Saturday night, with movement being allowed all night long.

Tennis. World no. 3 of Romania Simona Halep will
be playing Belgium’s Elise Mertens on Tuesday in the
third round of the Madrid WTA tennis tournament. On Sunday in the second round,
Mertens defeated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, while Halep defeated Saisai
Zheng of China.

Handball. The Romanian men’s
handball side failed to qualified for the 2022 European Championship after
losing to Montenegro 19:23 in Podgorica in their final qualifying group match.
Romania needed to win in order to finish second in their group and thus secure a
place in the championship. Sweden finished first in the group with 12 points
followed by Montenegro with 6, and Kosovo and Romania with 3. Romania last
qualified for a European championship in 1996 in Spain, where they ranked 9th.
The 2022 tournament will be co-hosted by Slovakia and Hungary.

Weather. A cloud of Saharan dust reached
Romania, but the concentration is much lower than in the area of the Italian
peninsula and the south of the Balkan peninsula. The phenomenon is the result
of the advance of a front of tropical air from northern Africa. The weather
remains very hot for this time of the year in Romania, with highs of 26 degrees
Celsius in Bucharest on Monday. (CM)