11 March 2020, UPDATE

A roundup of the main stories in Romania today.

Newsroom, 11.03.2020, 20:00

Pandemic. The World Health Organisation on Wednesday labelled the
coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The organisation’s chief said he was deeply
concerned over the alarming levels of inaction of the international community
over the alarming rate at which the virus is spreading. He warned that a rise
in the number of cases should be expected in the coming days and weeks, as well
as in the death toll and the number of countries affected. Earlier, the
European Commission said it would create a 25-billion-euro fund out of existing
resources to reduce the effects of the economic crisis generated by the
outbreak. The president of the European Council Charles Michel said EU leaders
agreed to provide liquidities to combat the crisis.

Coronavirus. Some 500 people are in quarantine
in Romania, being tested for Covid-19. Some 12,000 are isolated at home and
under medical monitoring. So far, dozens of cases have been confirmed at national
level. The distribution of medicines and sanitary equipment and materials
outside the country has been suspended for the next six months, and cultural
and entertainment events held in close spaces and attended by more than 100
people banned until March 31st. Schools and kindergardens are closed
until March 22nd, but the measure may be extended if necessary, in
order to prevent the virus from spreading. Also, all road transport services to
and from Italy have been suspended until March 31st, just like rail
and air transport services. The army will provide medical staff to help with
the coronavirus screening at border crossing points. The Romanian citizens
coming to Romania from or after travelling to Italy, China, Iran and South
Korea will be quarantined or asked to self-isolate at home.

Economy. President Iohannis
on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of an inter-institutional group to
assess the economic, financial and budgetary impact on Romania of the effects
of Covid-19. The purpose of the meeting was to identify both the economic risks
and the necessary measures to reduce them. Klaus Iohannis said that people expect
the economy to go into recession when the coronavirus crisis is over and that a
set of measures are being considered. He underlined that the economic impact of
this crisis should not be played down. The president of the National Council of
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Florin Jianu said the companies in
difficulty at this time, in areas like tourism, transport and car
manufacturing, must be supported through state aid schemes to help with salary
payments. Earlier, the acting finance minister Florin Citu said Romania has the
resources and fiscal instruments needed to cope with the challenges posed by
the spread of the coronavirus.

Inflation. In Romania, the annual inflation rate dropped to 3.05% in
February as compared to 3.6% in January, although foodstuffs and non-food
stuffs and services got more expensive, according to data made public on
Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics. Consumption prices in
February went up by 0.25% compared with January. The annual average consumption
goods price rate between March last year and February this year stands at 3.8%.
In another move, the National Bank of Romania has reduced the inflation
forecast for 2020 from 3.1% to 3%.

Migrants. The Romanian border police
on Tuesday night found 33 foreign citizens hiding in a Turkish goods carrier
and who were trying to cross the border illegally into neighbouring Hungary.
The migrants come from Syria, Iraq and Palestine. The group includes 17 men,
six women and ten minors, all of whom are requesting asylum. The adults are
aged between 20 and 41 and the minors between 10 months and 16 years. (CM)