January 21, 2022

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 21.01.2022, 13:55

COVID-19
ROMANIA -
19,649 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours, an absolute high
since the start of the pandemic, the Group for Strategic Communication has
announced. Yesterday, Romania also reported over 19 thousand cases. Also today,
49 related fatalities have also been reported. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila
says the COVID-related mortality rate is at present ten times lower compared to
October last year. The Romanian official added that an innovative antiviral
treatment will also be made available shortly. 8 million Romanians have so far
received at least one dose of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. The rate of
vaccination stands at 47.5% of the total eligible population, the head of the
National Committee for the Coordination of anti-COVID-19 Vaccination
Activities, medical doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă has announced. According to Dr.
Gheorghiţă, the highest vaccination rate (56%) is reported in the 50-59 age
bracket. The Health Minsitry announced that the bed occupation rate in
hospitals stands at 22% at national level, meaning classes in schools will
continue with full physical attendance next week as well.

COVID-19 WORLD
– The Austrian Parliament on Thursday adopted the law making anti-COVID-19
vaccination mandatory for the adult population. Austria thus becomes the first
EU country to introduce such a measure to combat the pandemic, despite numerous
street protests and an unconvincing vaccination campaign. The measure will take
effect on February 4. Austria reported a record-high number of infections,
nearly 30,000. Around 72% of people have completed the full vaccination scene,
below the figures reported in France or Spain. Meanwhile, the number of
infections continues to drop in the UK. The Government in London has announced
important relaxation of anti-pandemic measures starting next week. Masks and
COVID certificates will no longer be mandatory. Around 92,000 are reported
daily, considering 90% of the population has been immunized. In France as well,
the Government is considering a gradual easing of restrictions. Starting next
week, people can access restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centers,
cinemas, theatre and concert halls, stadiums and gyms only if they provide
proof of vaccination. Similarly, they can travel by train or coach between
regions under a similar provision. Yesterday, the UK reported 400 thousand
infections. 93% of the population has received at least one shot of the
anti-COVID vaccine.

STRIKE – The
strike action staged by trade unionists of the Bucharest Municipal Transport
Company continues today. Drivers this morning refused to do their regular
itineraries, although the Bucharest Tribunal yesterday issued a ruling to
suspend the strike and forcing the Company to resume public transport
activities. The court of law today will rule on a second notification advanced
by the Company over the legality of the protest. Trade union leader, Vasile
Petrariu, says public transport will resume once the Company director, Adrian Criță, resigns, also calling for a 10% increase of
salaries. Adrian Criță says that earlier this year he
invited the trade unions to negotiate the collective employment agreement, but
has so far received no response. Bucharest Mayor, Nicușor Dan, argues the
protest is purely political and has called on the authorities to enforce the
law. Also today, trade unions in the aluminum manufacturing sector are staging
a protest in front of the Government building. Employees point to the critical
issues facing this industry, as a result of the increase in energy prices.
Trade unions have warned that, by cutting back on aluminum production, large
numbers of people will be laid off or put on furlough, which will in turn
affect tens of thousands of employees working for enterprises that are directly
or indirectly reliant on the aluminum production industry.

US-RUSSIA RELATIONS – Geneva is today holding a round of talks between the USA and Russia.
Attending will be Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and the US
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. The US official on Wednesday paid a visit
to Kiev, reiterating the US’s unwavering support for Ukraine. Romania’s
president, Klaus Iohannis, on Thursday hailed the announcement made the
previous day by US president Joe Biden over the increase of America’s military
presence in Romania on NATO’s eastern flank should the security situation
deteriorate. The Romanian president added
that Romania’s Strategic Partnership with France will also be consolidated in
the Black Sea region, following the announcement of French president Emmanuel
Macron regarding France’s willingness to deploy troops on Romania’s territory
as part of NATO missions. Russia has
rallied over 100 thousand troops on the Ukrainian border, although it has
denied allegations over a planned invasion. The Kremlin has called on NATO
members to withdraw their troops from countries in Eastern Europe, including
Romania. Several rounds of talks between Washington and Moscow have taken place
in recent days, producing no results.

RUSSIA-ROMANIA
RELATIONS – On Friday, Russia called
on NATO to withdraw its troops from Romania and Bulgaria, as part of its
so-called security guarantees. The Russian Foreign Ministry wants NATO to
withdraw its troops, equipment and weapons from ex-Soviet states that were not
part of the Alliance in 1997. Such is the case of Romania and Bulgaria,
although analysts say Russia’s demands might also target Poland and the Baltic
states. The Kremlin claims the West had promised in the 1990s, at the end of
the Cold War, that NATO would never expand to states behind the former Iron
Curtain. From Poland to Bulgaria, all former USSR satellites in Central and
Eastern Europe are today part of NATO, as well as Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania. A March 2021 survey shows that 81% of Romanians believe the country
should be focusing on the West in terms of political and military alliances,
namely the EU, the USA and NATO. Only 10.4% of respondents believe Romania
should be focusing on Russia and China.

TENNIS – The
pair made up of Jaqueline Cristian of Romania and Andrea Petkovic of Germany
today advanced to the second round in the women’s doubles at the Australian
Open after ousting the all-Romanian pair Simona Halep / Gabriela Ruse in
straight sets. Raluca Olaru of Romania and Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany were
knocked out by Yifan Xu and Zhaoxuan Yang of China. The only Romanians left in
the women’s singles, Simona Halep and Sorana Cîrstea, are competing in the
third round on Saturday against Danka Kovinić of Montenegro and Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, respectively. (VP)