April 17, 2020

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 17.04.2020, 13:55

GOOD FRIDAY Orthodox believers who are a majority in Romania and Greek-Catholics
are today celebrating Good Friday, the day marking the death on a cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ and his burial. Believers have this year been banned from
attending any outdoor or indoor religious services in order to comply with the
measures aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID pandemic. Christians will
be able to watch religious services broadcast live on various TV channels and
online transmissions.

PROGRAMME A state-sponsored programme on supporting the small and
medium-sized businesses to benefit interest-free and commission-free loans has
today come into effect in Romania. The sum allotted for this programme is 3.1
billion euros for working capital and investment. Finance Minister Florin Citu
said this programme is addressing all small and medium-sized businesses in
Romania, not only those, which have been affected by the pandemic crisis. The
programme is aimed at kick-starting the Romanian economy and 600 thousand jobs
will be supported in the programme’s first stage. Companies willing to benefit
from the programme can register on the platform imminvest.ro.

MINISTER According to Romania’s Prime Minister
Ludovic Orban the peak of the coronavirus pandemic has not been reached in
Romania yet. The Romanian official believes that this peak will be reached in
early May and has again called on citizens not to leave their homes unless
necessary. Orban went on to say that the executive’s intention is that students
take their exams and complete studies at the end of the year as initially
planned. Schools could reopen after May 15th. Authorities have
announced 491 new cases of infection and the number of fatalities stands at
400. Nearly 1000 medical workers have so far tested positive for the virus most
of them in Suceava northern Romania and in Bucharest. 1508 people have been
cured and left hospitals. Romania has so far declared 8067 people infected, 22
thousand have been quarantined while over 50 thousand are in home
isolation.

ORDINANCE Authorities in Bucharest have issued another military ordinance,
number 9. Among other things, the ordinance extends the ban on flights to and
from 10 countries: The UK, Northern Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey,
Iran, Italy, France and Germany. Under the same law, sailors are exempted from
being kept in isolation unless they present Covid symptoms as well as truck
drivers and plane crews. Under the same ordinance, the export of wheat and
other derived products is no longer banned as the state reserves have been completed.

PANDEMIC Since its outbreak in China, the Coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly
141 thousand people the world over, two thirds in Europe. The United States has
reported most of the fatalities 35,688 followed by Italy 21,647, Spain 18,579,
France with 17,167 and Britain 12,868. The crisis’ social and economic impact
has fueled concern among experts who believe the pandemic will bring the end of
economy as we know it. OPEC has anticipated for 2020 a sharp drop in the crude
demand worldwide due to the international economic blockage caused by the
pandemic. Some pundits believe that Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal are in
for deep economic recessions. According to European Commission Chief, Ursula von
der Leyen, Europe needs a new Marshall plan for public and private investment
and the creation of new jobs.

(translated by bill)