August 31, 2020
A news roundup
Newsroom, 31.08.2020, 13:55
COVID — 19 Ro — Another 755 new cases of Covid-19 infection and 43 new deaths have been reported in Romania over the past 24 hours. The total number of contaminations has reached 87,540, with the death toll standing at 3,621, show data provided on Monday by the Strategic Communication Group. 506 patients are currently in ICUs and 37,869 have recovered. The local authorities are this week starting to assess the situation of COVID-19 cases and the transmission rate, given that the new school year is supposed to start on September 14. Depending on this assessment, they will decide on how the new school year begins and how they will adapt the 3 scenarios proposed by the public health authorities.
Measures – The Romanian government adopted on Monday new relaxation measures to be applied as of September 1. They are to decide on the resumption of cultural activities in enclosed areas and of activities inside restaurants and cafes. The conditions for resuming activities were set up in a meeting of the National Committee for Emergency Situations. Restaurants will be reopened in those counties where the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the past 14 days is smaller or equal to 1.5 per one thousand inhabitants. The same condition is applied for the opening of cinema halls and auditoriums that will operate at half capacity. Also, as of September 1, seminars and private events will be resumed with the participation of a maximum of 50 persons in enclosed areas and 100 in the open air.
Motion — The Romanian Parliament is debating and voting on the motion of no confidence submitted by the opposition Social Democratic Party- PSD against the Liberal government headed by Ludovic Orban. The Social Democrats backed by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and the PRO Romania party accuse the government for the way in which it managed the health crisis. On the other hand, the PM considers the PSD’s initiative as politically irresponsible. The Save Romania Union and the People’s Movement Party will not back the motion and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania announced they are going to decide today how their MPs will vote. The motion needs 233 votes to pass.
Romanian Language Day — The Romanian Language Day is being celebrated today in Romania, in the Romanian historical communities abroad and in the Diaspora. Cultural, educational and artistic events are held in Romania to mark the Romanian Language Day, while the representative offices of the Romanian Cultural Institute from abroad prepared on their Facebook pages, YouTube and Instagram profiles various events such as film screenings, exhibitions, music recitals and poem recitation and Romanian language courses. ‘The language defines our identity and culture, shapes and inspires us. A special message is now going to those who speak and preserve the Romanian language outside Romania’s borders’ said the Romanian President Klaus Ioahnnis. In turn, the president of Romanian Academy, historian Ioan-Aurel Pop, said that despite various influences, the Romanian language has the power to preserve its origin and identity. The Day of the Romanian Language was established by law in 2013.
Tennis — The US Open, the first grand slam tournament held after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic stars today in New York. The Romanian Simona Halep, world no. 2, will not participate in the tournament. In the women’s singles Romania is represented by Sorana Cirstea, Irina Begu, Patricia Tig and Mihaela Buzarnescu. No Romanian tennis player will participate in the men’s singles as Marius Copil decided not to go to New York. In the doubles, Romania will be represented by Horia Tecau who will pair up with Jean-Julien Rojer in the men’s competition while Raluca Olaru will pair up with the Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo in the women’s doubles. (tr. L. Simion)
