May 17, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 17.05.2021, 20:00

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – The evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic
maintains its downward trend in Romania. The number of new cases of infection,
as well as of patients in serious condition, has been dropping. 392 new cases
of COVID-19 were reported in 24 hours, according to data announced on Monday.
There are now nearly 5,000 patients in hospitals, of whom 753 in intensive
care. The number of Covid-19 related deaths has also dropped to 48. At
this time the infection rate is below 1.5 per thousand inhabitants everywhere
in the country. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 1,072,000 people
have become infected with SARS-Cov2, but 95% have been cured. Nearly 30,000
people have lost the battle with the virus. Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign
continues. Over 6.8 million doses of anti-COVID-19 vaccine have been
administered so far, and some 2.8 million Romanians have taken both shots.

REPORT – Health Minister Ioana Mihăilă on
Monday presented before the Chamber of Deputies, at the request of the
Social-Democratic Party in opposition, the report on the situation of
COVID-19-related deaths. The Social Democrats’ request came after Parliament
rejected, last week, its request for the setting up of a commission of inquiry
into the reporting made during the pandemic. The Health Minister admitted there
are differences between the data from the two platforms where the COVID-19-related
deaths are registered. More specifically, the number of COVID-related
fatalities reported on alert.ms.ro is higher than that reported by the National
Statistics Institute. Minister Mihăilă told Parliament she has asked for
clarifications that are bound to improve the way fatalities are reported. The
Social-Democratic Party criticized the cynical tone the Minister uses to refer
to COVID victims as if they were merely stock.

COVID-19 IN THE WORLD –Italy on Monday entered a new phase of
relaxation of anti-COVID restrictions, and the authorities want to discuss new
measures in this regard, which would enter into force on May 24. According to Radio
Romania’s correspondent in Rome, almost all of Italy became a yellow zone on
Monday, with fewer anti-coronavirus restrictions. The rate of infection is
decreasing by the day. Although they were reluctant at first, now more and more
Italians want to be vaccinated even with AstraZeneca, a vaccine especially
requested in the northern regions of the country. The most important relaxation
measures this year also came into force in England on Monday, and the
restrictions will be completely lifted in the second half of June. On the other
hand, the authorities are worried about the more contagious Indian strain, and
say that in the future it will become predominant. Restaurants, bars, pubs and
cafes all are allowed to function indoors. Theaters, performance halls,
art galleries, swimming pools and indoor playgrounds will also be reopened. It
is the third wave of relaxation and the most important this year, which takes
place in the context of the success of the vaccination campaign. At present,
the number of Covid-19 related deaths is close to zero across the UK.

UNESCO – On Monday, a series of events
kicked off in Bucharest celebrating 65 years since Romania joined UNESCO. The
event will be marked through a series of conferences, exhibitions and concerts,
including the 11th edition of the International Conducting
Competition Jeunesses Musicales Bucharest, one of the most important
conducting contests in the world, held over May 10 – December 10. Romania
joined UNESCO on July 27, 1956. Education, culture, natural sciences, human
sciences as well as information and communication are the main sectors UNESCO
operates in.

EUROVISION –Romania is represented in this year’s
edition of the Eurovision contest, hosted by the Netherlands, by Roxen with the
song ‘Amnesia’. Roxen will be the 13th artist to sing in Rotterdam
in the first semifinal on May 18th. The second semifinal will take
place on Thursday, May 20th. Romania’s best performances in this
competition have been twice the third place (Luminiţa Anghel & Sistem -
Kiev, 2005; Paula Seling and Ovi – Oslo, 2010) and once the fourth place (Mihai
Trăistariu – Athens, 2006). The Rotterdam edition takes place live, with a
small number of spectators. All participants in the show and rehearsals must
follow strict coronavirus rules, including testing. A maximum of 3,500 people
will be allowed to be part of the audience. The 65th edition of the
contest will take place under the slogan ‘Open Up’. (MI & VP)