December 3, 2021 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news...
Newsroom, 03.12.2021, 21:16
LIST – In Bucharest, the National Committee for Emergencies updated on Friday the list of countries and territories with high coronavirus infection rates. Thus, France, Portugal, Mauritius and the Northern Mariana Islands entered the red zone. Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia and Belize have entered the orange zone after being out of the red one, while countries like Spain, Sweden and Vietnam, previously in the green zone, have entered the orange zone.
JUSTICE – In Bucharest Nicolae Banicioiu, former Social Democrat minister of youth and sports and also health minister has been prosecuted for influence peddling and bribe taking. Anti-corruption prosecutors say that while a minister, Banicioiu allegedly demanded and received 260 thousand euros and 360 thousand euros, respectively, from two companies selling goods to public hospitals and institutes, in exchange for exerting his influence for their benefit.
COVID-19 – Almost 1700 new cases of coronavirus infection have been reported on Friday in Romania. More than 200 related deaths have also been reported. In Bucharest, the incidence rate has dropped to 1.58 cases per one thousand inhabitants. As regards vaccination, a little over 7.4 million people have been fully vaccinated in Romania. In another development, two of the three Romanians repatriated from South Africa, who tested positive for Covid-19, have most likely been infected with the Omicron variant, according to the first lab tests. The three are vaccinated and asymptomatic. One of the 122 Romanians repatriated on Thursday evening from Morocco, after flights had been suspended over the Omicron variant, tested positive to coronavirus but the variant is still to be established. All other passengers tested negative.
SOCIAL – The number of disabled people in Romania stands at 861,000, of whom 98% are cared for by their families or live independently, while only 2% are institutionalised, according to the latest data released by the authorities. The capital Bucharest has the largest number of disabled people. Women account for more than half of the total number. PM Nicolae Ciuca said that a draft law on protection measures for people with mental disabilities will be discussed by the Government next week. The UN declared December 3 as the International Day of the People with Disabilities.
GOVERNMENT – The Romanian government has approved the granting of emergency aid to the families of the people who died in the explosion occurred at the Babeni plant in Vâlcea County (south). Four people died and three were wounded by the explosion. Also, two people suffered a traumatic shock. The executive in Bucharest has also discussed draft budget for next year, which should be approved by December 24.
INVESTIGATION – The Romanian Court of Cassation and Justice has admitted the reopening of the criminal investigation against former left-wing president Ion Iliescu, in connection with the death of four people during the so called “miners’ raid” of June 13-15, 1990. This is just part of the case in which Ion Iliescu was indicted for murder in the first degree along with the former Interior Minister Mihai Chitac. In 1990, the miners from the Jiu Valley (centre-west) stormed the capital Bucharest and attacked people who were protesting against those who took over power after the 1989 anti-Communist Revolution.
