January 20, 2022 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 20.01.2022, 20:00

COVID-19 ROMANIA – Romania on Thursday reported over 19 thousand
SARS-CoV-2 infections over the course of 24 hours out of 78 thousand tests, a
record high since the start of the pandemic. The Group for Strategic Communication
announced another 43 related fatalities, of which 4 were reported prior to the
reference period. The previous record of infections was on October 19, 2021,
when 18,863 infections were reported in a single day. At the time 561 deaths
were also 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 is reported for people aged 50-59. Starting January 26, the anti-COVID-19
vaccine can be administered to children aged 5-11.

PROGRAM – The authorities have launched the National Program
for Combating Cancer in an event attended by president Klaus Iohannis. In
February 2021, the European Commission launched the Europe’s Beating Cancer
Plan, allotting €4 billion to finance cancer prevention, research and treatment
programs across the community bloc. Meanwhile, the Romanian Parliament set up a
special task force charged with transposing the Commission’s plan into national
law. Right now, part of the cancer treatments, lab tests and prevention
programs are funded under a nationwide program.

NATO – Romania 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 Romania-USA Strategic Partnership and NATO
solidarity are very strong, Klaus Iohannis tweeted. 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. The announcements follow at a
very delicate time for Eastern Europe, where Russia has rallied over 100 thousand
troops on the Ukrainian border. The Kremlin has called on NATO members to
withdraw their troops from countries in Eastern Europe, including Romania. Romania’s
Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, said NATO should consolidate its presence on
its eastern flank as soon as possible, adding that the recent messages conveyed
by the presidents of the USA and France also serve an important deterrence purpose
in the current security context.

MOLDOVA
– Romania’s Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, on
Thursday talked over the phone to his Moldovan counterpart, Natalia Gavrilița, over the possibility
of ensuring the necessary volume of fuel oil for the Republic of Moldova. For
that to happen, Moldova must submit a formal request. The conversation followed
after the Moldovan Parliament declared a state of emergency in the energy
sector due to the high risk that the Russian energy giant Gazprom should cease
natural gas deliveries to the Republic of Moldova. The two officials also
discussed about preparations for the upcoming joint government session, slated
for early February. We recall that on Wednesday, the government adopted the
memorandum ensuring the framework for a new agreement based on which Romania
will be able to continue providing technical and financial support to Moldova.
Romania has provided Moldova with a non-reimbursable financial aid worth €100
million.

TENNIS – Tennis player Simona Halep advanced to the third round at the
Australian open after ousting Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, 6-2, 6-0 on
Thursday. Sorana Cîrstea also qualified to the next
phase after defeating Kristina Kukova of Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4. Irina Begu however
lost to Elise Mertens of Belgium in the second round. (VP)