January 5, 2021

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Newsroom, 05.01.2021, 13:55

COVID-19 In Romania a total of nearly 650,000 coronavirus
infections have been confirmed so far, according to the Strategic Communication
Group, with 4,729 new cases out of 31,022 tests reported in the past 24 hours.
121 people died since Monday’s report, taking the total death toll to 16,178. The vaccination of healthcare staff
continues, with more than 25,500 immunised so far, using the Pfizer BioNTech
vaccine, according to the National Committee coordinating the vaccination
programme. The authorities say the vaccination of healthcare staff is an act of
responsibility ensuring the protection of medical personnel and preserving the
country’s capability to provide safe healthcare services to all patients.

SCHOOLS The Education Ministry announced this week consultations with students, teachers and parents to analyse the option of reopening schools. Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu is considering a return to face-to-face classes as of the start of the second semester of the school year, provided the COVID-19 situation allows it. The National Students Council warned that online classes are inefficient and demanding. Many students lack access to education because they do not have tablets or an internet connection. Since March 2020, with a brief intermission, Romanian students have attended online classes exclusively.

CORRUPTION The National Anti-Corruption Directorate requested the General Prosecutors Office to notify president Klaus Iohannis of the commencement of prosecution against former Environment Minister Costel Alexe. Prosecutors say that while a member of the Ludovic Orban Cabinet, Alexe allegedly demanded sheet metal products worth over 20,000 euros from the manager of a steel works, in exchange for awarding greenhouse gas certificates to the company. Alexe denied the accusations and claimed he had confidence in the judiciary. The Social Democrats in Opposition asked Alexe to step down as chairman of the Iasi County Council, a post he has held since this autumns local elections.

HOUSING In the 27 EU member countries, 17.2% of the people were living in overcrowded households last year, i.e. the number of rooms was insufficient for the number of family members, according to data released today by the European Statistics Office (Eurostat). First by overcrowding rate was Romania, with nearly half of its population (45.8%). Other EU member states with similar problems in 2019 included Latvia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Poland. The countries with the lowest overcrowding rates were Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the Netherlands.

SPORTS Gymnast Larisa Iordache, twice European champion last year in Turkey, ranks first in a standing of Romanias best athletes of the year 2020, put together by the Romanian Council of Sport Media Association. Iordache won 4 medals at the European Championships in Turkey, gold in beam and floor, and silver in vault and in the team event. Second comes tennis player Simona Halep and wrestler Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu. Halep, number 2 in the world, won 3 tournaments last year, in Dubai, Prague and Rome, while Alexuc won the gold at the European Chapionships in Rome. Ranking 9th in the standings is the incumbent Youth and Sports Minister, Carol-Eduard Novak, who won 3 medals at last years World Para Athletics Championship.

PANDEMIC Several countries introduce new restrictions to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Italy introduces a 2-day lockdown today, and is to return on January 7 to the measures prior to the winter holidays, including a night curfew and mandatory 2-week quarantine for all citizens who enter the country. In Britain, PM Boris Johnson announced a new lockdown, comparable to the one in spring 2020, as the healthcare system is overwhelmed. Similar measures came into force at midnight in Scotland, whereas the local governments in Wales and Northern Ireland announced schools would stay closed. Austria, in turn, is extending the lockdown at least until January 24th, and so is Germany, which according to Deutsche Welle is extending tough containment measures for another 3 weeks. (tr. A.M. Popescu)