January 4, 2022
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 04.01.2022, 13:55
CORONAVIRUS — Almost 4,000 new infections with Covid-19 have been reported today in Romania, more than double Monday’s figure. Also, 52 related deaths have been reported, of which 5 from a previous date. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila says that the number of infections in this 5th wave of the pandemic is expected to be double the one in the 4th wave, when there were 400,000 confirmed cases. Since the onset of the pandemic, over 1,8 million people in Romania had the infection, and almost 60 thousand died. The country has the second lowest immunization rate in the EU, after Bulgaria. Less than 7.9 million Romanians have been fully vaccinated, which is little over 40% of the eligible population. About 2 million of them have also received the booster jab.
ENERGY – Romanian PM Nicolae Ciuca today held a working meeting with members of his cabinet and representatives of Transelectrica, Transgaz and Romgaz companies, to assess the stage of preparations for the winter season, from the perspective of the energy sector. According to the Government’s press office, the conclusion of the meeting was that the supply of electricity is ensured for essential services, household consumers and for other categories of consumers. Also, there are enough natural gas stocks to cover the demand.
COLLECTIVE – The Bucharest Court of Appeal on Monday postponed by two months, until March the 3rd, the final ruling in the case of those guilty of the tragedy of October 30, 2015, in Bucharest, when 65 people died in the fire that broke out during a concert in the Collective Club. In December 2019, the Bucharest Tribunal, the first instance court, gave sentences of up to 13 years in prison and the payment of total damages of over 50 million lei (10 million euros) to the victims’ families.
TOURISM – Romanian tourists have spent on the occasion of the New Year some 45 million euros on foreign travel destinations and 30 million euros on domestic destinations, according to a report of the National Travel Agencies’ Association. In Romania, the average stay was 2 to 3 nights and the tourists’ favourite destinations were the mountain resorts and the rural areas. The destinations preferred by travellers abroad were Egypt, Dubai, Zanzibar, the Dominican Republic, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Latin America. Around 10 thousand Romanians went on city-breaks to Europe, mostly to cities like Athens, Paris, Prague, Rome or Barcelona.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea has today qualified to the second round of Melbourne Summer Set 2 (WTA 250) after an easy win over Russian Varvara Graceva (6-0, 6-0). Also today, in the first round of Melbourne Summer Set 1, Romanian Jaqueline Cristian was defeated by Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (7), 6-2. The all Romanian team Simona Halep/Elena Gabriela Ruse lost in the first round of the women’s doubles at the Melbourne Summer Set 2, to the American-Czech pair Bernarda Pera/Katerina Siniakova, who are 2nd seeds, 6-2, 7-6 (2). In women’s singles, Ruse may be up against Simona Halep in the second round, if the latter gets past Australian Destanee Aiava. All these competitions are held ahead of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, due in Melbourne between January 17 and 30. (EE)
