March 18, 2020
The latest domestic and international news
Newsroom, 18.03.2020, 13:55
Covid-19 Romania 246 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Romania, by 29 more than yesterday. So far, 19 people have been declared cured. At national level, some 3,400 people are in quarantine and are being tested. Another 23,679 people are self-isolated at home and under medical monitoring. New restrictions have come into force in Romania today, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. All restaurants, coffee shops and other types of public facilities will stay closed for 30 days, in order to limit social contact as much as possible. Only drive-in, room-service and home delivery services will be allowed. All indoor activities, including religious and sporting events are suspended, just like services provided in beauty shops and spa facilities. Also today, residents will be redistributed to help the medical staff in hospitals and emergency units. A national center for intervention has been activated to work outside Bucharest. All flights to and from Spain have been suspended as of today, and the trips to and from Italy remain suspended for another two weeks.
Government The Romanian Government convenes today for the first time since the president declared, on Monday, a state of national emergency in Romania. Its the first session of the Liberal Cabinet headed by Ludovic Orban. The meeting will be held via a teleconference platform and will focus on economic decisions, given the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government intends to increase companies liquidities and to support the employees that are in furlough. Also, the deadline for the payment of local taxes will be extended and capacities for the production of sanitary materials and disinfectants will be enhanced. The financial impact of these measures is estimated at some 2% of the countrys GDP for the next three months, the Finance Minister Florin Citu has stated.
Covid-19 world The EU has closed its borders for the citizens of non-EU countries and has banned non-essential circulation in the Shengen area, in order to curb the spread of the pandemic, given that several member countries have imposed curfews. The most affected country in Europe, Italy, where 2500 people have died, is no longer capable of dealing with the situation in hospitals. Several countries have announced they will deploy huge financial aids to combat the effects of the pandemic. The Italian Government has promised 240 billion Euros and support for the affected companies, especially in tourism and air transport. The Spanish PM has stated that the Government will spend 200 billion for the biggest aid plan in 40 years of democracy, in order to absorb the economic shock. Brussels too has mobilized 37 billion Euros to support vulnerable sectors and another 140 million for research into treatments, rapid tests and a vaccine that might be ready by autumn. France and Germany have committed some 550 billion, and Japan is preparing a relief plan package worth more than 190 billion dollars. The US will allocate the largest amount, one trillion dollars, as president Trump has announced.
Transit The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has held fresh talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, in order to identify new solutions to ensure the transit and facilitate the return to the country of Romanian citizens stuck on the Hungarian borders. It has been agreed that the Romanian citizens who were on the border between Austria and Hungary at 12, Hungary time, are allowed to cross, until the blockage is eliminated. At the same time, the Hungarian side has accepted to allow transit every day, between 9p.m. and 5a.m. along the routes indicated by the Hungarian authorities. The Romanian citizens in question,just like Bulgarian and other nationals, are coming back home as, they say, they lost their jobs in the Western countries because of the coronavirus situation. In an attempt to limit the spread of the infection, Hungary has decided to close its borders for all foreign citizens.
Simulation Romanian MPs are organizing an online voting simulation. Its a test for Thursdays joint session, which will be held for the first time in the virtual space. The participants will vote the decree under which a state of national emergency has been declared in Romania, and the senators and deputies are to vote online, because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Constitution, Parliament can only endorse or reject the presidential decree. On Tuesday, the decree got a favourable opinion from the parliamentary committees, also by means of virtual meetings. The debates will be held via a teleconference platform. (M.Ignatescu)
