January 31, 2020 UPDATE
Eleven people died from seasonal flu, no coronavirus cases confirmed in Romania so far
Newsroom, 31.01.2020, 20:00
FLU Eleven people died in Romania from seasonal flu so far, according to the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control. Experts announced that the week of January 20th was the seasons first week of epidemic. Several schools in Bucharest and elsewhere in the country were also closed because of flu cases. The Education Ministry announced that full or partial suspension of classes because of the flu affects over 5,500 students, but that this is not the number of cases among children. Neighbouring Bulgaria is also affected, with 19 regions officially declaring a flu epidemic and classes suspended in nearly 1,900 schools and kindergartens.
BREXIT As of February 1, Britain is the first state to leave the EU since its establishment. The British economy accounted for 15% of the EU economy, and London is the worlds financial capital. The UK was also the EU member state with the largest defence budget. The kingdom joined the European community in 1973, 16 years since the Rome Treaty had been signed and 22 since the European Coal and Steel Community had been set up by France, West Germany, Italy and Benelux. In 2016, the UK decided through a referendum to leave the bloc, which kicked off a controversial and complicated negotiation process. The transition period which begins on Saturday ends late this year. One of the most critical aspects that need working out is a trade agreement to avoid customs duties between the 2 parties. Romania regrets Britains decision and hopes it will remain a close and trustworthy partner, sharing the same system of values, President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement. He emphasised that Bucharests main goal has been to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Romanian citizens who live, work and study in the UK, a goal which is properly reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement. Romania wishes to deepen its strategic partnership with Britain, so as to strengthen the post-Brexit relation between the 2 countries, president Iohannis also said.
AVIATION Poland signed on Friday a 4.6 billion US dollar deal on the procurement of 32 last-generation stealth F-35 aircraft from the US, to consolidate its air forces and also its relations with Washington, AFP reports. This is an important day for the Polish military aviation, for the countrys security and for the security of this part of Europe, Polands president Andrzej Duda said. The first fighters could be supplied in 2024, making Poland the first Central and Eastern European country to use this kind of aircraft.
VIRUS No coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Romania so far, the ministerial committee for the management and monitoring of the potential infections with the new virus has announced. Prevention measures have been put in place in airports and medical units designated for the treatment of possible infection cases. The National Authority for Consumer Protection in Romania has given assurances that there is no contamination risk from goods imported from China since the virus has a lifespan of 24 hours outside the human body, and it takes around 35 days to transport goods from China into Romania. The World Health Organisation has declared the new coronavirus a global emergency as the death toll in China stands at 213, out of nearly 10,000 cases.
(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
