May 17, 2021
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 17.05.2021, 13:55
Covid-19RO.The evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic maintains its downward trend in Romania. The number of new cases of infection, as well as of patients in serious condition, has been dropping. 392 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in 24 hours, according to data announced today. There are now nearly 5,000 patients in hospitals, of whom 753 in intensive care. The number of Covid-19 related deaths has also dropped to 48. At this time the infection rate is below 1.5 per thousand inhabitants everywhere in the country. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 1,072,000 people have become infected with SARS-Cov2, but 95% have been cured. Nearly 30,000 people have lost the battle with the virus. The vaccination campaign continues. Today, Romania is to receive a new batch of almost 700,000 doses of Pfizer BioNTech vaccines, the coordination committee has announced.
Report. The Romanian Minister of Health, Ioana Mihăilă, is presenting today, in the Chamber of Deputies, at the request of the opposition Social Democratic Party, the report on the situation of COVID-19-related deaths. The Social Democrats move came after Parliament rejected, last week, its request for the setting up of a commission of inquiry into the reporting made during the pandemic. Ioana Mihăilă has presented data from the document, which was made public. The Minister of Health has admitted that there are differences between the data from the two platforms where the COVID-19-related deaths are registered. She said, however, that these differences are due to bureaucracy and the fact that hospitals use different types of reporting. Thus, the number of COVID-19-related deaths on the alert.ms.ro platform is 13% higher than the figure reported by the National Institute of Statistics, the document reveals.
Pandemic. Italy enters, today, a new phase of relaxation of anti-COVID restrictions, and the authorities want to discuss new measures in this regard, which would enter into force on May 24. According to the Radio Romania correspondent in Rome, almost all of Italy has become a yellow zone today, with fewer anti-coronavirus restrictions. The rate of infections is decreasing by the day. Although they were reluctant at first, now more and more Italians want to be vaccinated even with AstraZeneca, a vaccine especially requested in the northern regions of the country. The most important relaxation measures this year also enter into force in England today, and the restrictions will be completely lifted in the second half of June. On the other hand, the authorities are worried about the more contagious Indian strain, and say that in the future it will become predominant. Restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes all are allowed to function indoors. Theaters, performance halls, art galleries, swimming pools and indoor playgrounds will also be reopened. It is the third wave of relaxation and the most important this year, which takes place in the context of the success of the vaccination campaign. At present, the number of Covid-19 related deaths is close to zero across the UK.
Israel. The Israeli army carried out dozens of attacks on Gaza Strip last night, from where Islamist armed groups continued to launch missiles at Israel, FP reports. According to Reuters, the Israeli air force reported that fighter jets hit terrorist targets in Gaza, after missiles from Gaza had been launched on the Israeli towns of Beersheba and Ashkelon immediately after midnight. There is no immediate information about the potential victims in either camp. Israeli raids killed 42 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, including at least eight children and two doctors, on the bloodiest day last week. The UN Security Council emergency meeting on Sunday made no progress.
Eurovision. Romania is represented at this years edition of the Eurovision contest, hosted this year by the Netherlands, by Roxen with the song Amnesia. Roxen will be the 13th artist to sing in Rotterdam in the first semifinal on May 18th. The second semifinal will take place on Thursday, May 20th. Romanias best performances in this competition have been twice the third place (Luminiţa Anghel & Sistem – Kiev, 2005; Paula Seling and Ovi – Oslo, 2010) and once the fourth place (Mihai Trăistariu – Athens, 2006 ). The Rotterdam edition takes place live, with a small number of spectators. All participants in the show and rehearsals must follow strict coronavirus rules, including testing. A maximum of 3,500 people will be allowed to be part of the audience. The 65th edition of the contest will take place under the slogan Open Up. (MI)
