May 2, 2021
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 02.05.2021, 13:55
EASTER — In Romania, Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Neo-Protestant believers celebrate Easter. At midnight, the faithful went to church to receive the Holy Light brought from Jerusalem. Access to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest was limited to 500 people. The ban on night circulation was lifted for believers attended Easter mass, but other restrictions like mask wearing and social distancing were still in force. President Klaus Iohannis conveyed a message to all Romanians who celebrate Easter these days, thanking them for their support in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said in a message that his prayers go to the families affected by the pandemic and urged people to try to bring joy to those who suffer.
CELEBRATIONS — The Easter holiday and Labour Day celebrations are under way in Romania. Many Romanians chose to go to the mountain and Black Sea resorts to celebrate. Around 300,000 bookings in hotels and guest houses have been registered, according to tourism operators. Thousands of tourists took the Black Sea resorts by storm, with Mamaia and Vama Veche as the main attractions. Impressive security forces have been mobilised, to make sure the restrictions in place are being observed. Mask wearing is compulsory and parties on the beach are not allowed.
CORONAVIRUS –The number of new cases of COVID-19 and related deaths continues to decline in Romania. On Sunday, the line authorities confirmed more than 1,080 new infections and 88 related deaths. Over 8,000 coronavirus patients are hospitalized and almost 1,250 are in intensive care. The total number of confirmed infections since the onset of the pandemic surpasses 1,050,000 with almost 28,200 related deaths. Restaurants, theatres and cinemas in the capital Bucharest will be opened and will function at 30% capacity. These decisions have been taken today by the Bucharest Municipal Committee for Emergencies and apply as of Monday. Bucharest is no longer in the red zone, after the 14-day incidence rate dropped below 3 cases per 1,000 inhabitants. The capital city and 16 counties are now in the yellow zone, whereas the rest of the country is in the green zone. In the meantime, the Covid vaccination campaign continues. Four drive-through vaccination sites opened in Bucharest, Deva (in the west of the country), Cluj Napoca (in the north-west) and Arad (in the west). More than 3.3 million Romanians have been vaccinated so far.
PANDEMIC – The Dutch Government has suspended the plans to lift a number of restrictions starting on May 11, because the country continues to register high infection rates. In India, authorities have extended by another week the lockdown of the Delhi area, against the backdrop of high infection rates and chronic shortage of beds and oxygen in hospitals. The country’s capital will be in lockdown until May 10. India has reported the biggest number Covid-related deaths since the onset of the pandemic, after almost 3,700 people died in the last 24 hours alone. In Spain, the government announced that a number of restrictions will remain in place after the country exits lockdown on May 9. Leaders of the autonomous communities say they want night circulation to be further banned and also ask for reduced opening hours for shops and restaurants. According to worldometers, over 152 million people have been infected with Covid-19 across the world, 3.2 million died and 130 million have recovered since the onset of the pandemic.
PROTESTS – Street protests that ended in violence marked the International Labour Day in France, Spain and Germany on Saturday, in spite of restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. In Paris, protesters clashed with security forces that used tear gas and made a number of arrests. Thousands of French people joined the traditional May 1st rallies across the country to demand economic and social justice and to have their say on the government’s plan to change unemployment benefits. In Madrid, protesters asked for improved labour market regulations while in Berlin protesters encouraged migration and condemned racism. Rallies were also held across the ocean, in Canada, where protesters surrounded the Olympic Stadium in Montreal which hosts one of the main vaccination centres in the country, denouncing the sanitary measures taken to fight the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no. 3 in the world, is today playing against Saisai Zheng (WTA 57) of China, in the second round of the Madrid tennis tournament. The two played against each other two times before, with Simona winning both matches. Simona Halep won the Madrid final in 2016 and 2017 and lost two other finals. (EE)
