May 1, 2020 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 01.05.2020, 20:00
CORONAVIRUS ROMANIA – Romanian authorities have announced another three deaths from the coronavirus, which brings the death toll to 726 in the country. So far 12,567 people tested positive to the virus, of whom 4,328 have recovered and 249 are in intensive care. Some 2,348 Romanian citizens have been infected abroad, of whom 91 have died.
FUNDS – The Bucharest Government issued an emergency order on Thursday, for the allocation of over 42 million euros for the conducting in the mass media, of an information campaign regarding the rules that need to be observed during the state of emergency triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and also during the subsequent period, when restrictions are to be lifted. 47% of the amount will go to national televisions and 53% to the local and regional printed and online press and local and regional radio and TV stations. According to the Government, this is also a support mechanism for the media industry and journalists who, during this period, are highly affected by the dramatic drop in revenues from advertising. Some of the potential beneficiaries of these funds have announced they do not support the idea of receiving money from the Government under the pretext of an information campaign but rather as fiscal solutions to help the media industry indiscriminately. In another development, a number of websites have been closed over the spread of fake news at the request of the Romanian Government’s Group for Strategic Communication. Authorities said the measure was part of their efforts to block disinformation campaigns. The Ombudsman, however, has pointed out that restricting the right to free speech is not among the rights that can be restricted during a state of emergency.
MAY 1st — The May 1st 3-day holiday in Romania, which started on Friday, is usually celebrated at the seaside or at the mountain, with barbecues and parties together with family and friends. This year, given the coronavirus pandemic, Romanians are urged by the authorities to stay home and continue to observe restrictions in place. Around 36 thousand policemen, gendarmes, military and firefighters are patrolling the roads and leisure areas to prevent people from travelling to the places where they traditionally spent the May 1st holiday. Authorities have warned that unless the social distancing measures are being observed during this period, the number of new infections may surge, which makes the planned easing of restrictions as of May 15th impossible.
JOURNALISTS — At least 55 journalists have died so far in 23 countries from the coronavirus since the beginning of March, the Swiss NGO Press Emblem Campaign reports. The safety of media workers is particularly at risk during the pandemic because they must continue to provide information on the ground and testify by visiting hospitals, interviewing political, economic and scientific officials, doctors, nurses and patients, the NGO says on its website. Of the 55 journalists who have died 9 are from Ecuador, 8 from the US, 4 from Brazil, 3 from Britain and 3 from Spain.
PANDEMIC — The coronavirus pandemic killed over 230 thousand people worldwide since its emergence in China in December, of whom 90% in Europe and the United States, according to a France Press report. Most deaths were reported in the US, Italy, Britain, Spain and France. Italy, which reported the largest number of victims in Europe, has started to ease restrictions while in Spain, after 48 days of almost total isolation, people are allowed to go out for a walk starting the 2nd of May. France is expected to ease restrictions starting the 11th of May.
MEDICAL STAFF — As many as 42 Romanian doctors and nurses travelled to the Republic of Moldova on Thursday, to help their colleagues in the neighboring country fight the coronavirus. They are providing medical assistance to infected patients and help train the medical staff in hospitals in Chisinau, Balti and Cahul. Also, the Bucharest Government has granted 3.5 million euro humanitarian aid to Moldova, consisting protection masks, hazmat suits and medicines needed in the treatment of the disease. Also on Thursday, Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, travelled to Chisinau to convey a message of support in the context of the pandemic and to assure the country’s authorities of Romania’s support for Moldova’s EU integration bid. (Translated by Elena Enache)
