November 5, 2021

A news roundup

Newsroom, 05.11.2021, 13:54

Covid — 8,268 cases of COVID-19 and 483 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours in Romania, 20 of the deaths being reported previous to the reference interval, shows data announced on Friday by the authorities. All beds in ICUs across the country are occupied. Most new cases were registered in Bucharest, where the incidence rate is dropping towards less than 12 cases per thousand inhabitants. The president of the Medical College, Daniel Coriu, said that over 92% of the infected people who died were not vaccinated against COVID. The vaccination rate has slowed in recent days, after a surge reported in the past two weeks. More than 82,000 people have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, of whom 43,000 with the first dose. The total number of fully vaccinated people stands at a little over 6,400,000.

WHO — A World Health Organization delegation is in Bucharest where they visited several hospitals in Romania. Their conclusion is that the situation in hospitals across Romania is dramatic and immediate sanitary measures are needed to protect vulnerable people, above all. At the same time, vaccination against COVID-19 is the main solution to prevent new waves of infection. WHO representatives also met with members of the parliamentary health committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

Schools — Classes will start on November 8 for all students and preschoolers in Romania, both in the state and private education systems, the interim Education Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu said today in a press conference. He explained that courses will be attended physically in the schools where the COVID vaccination rate among teachers is over 60%. One week ago, the minister had announced that more than half of the schools and kindergartens exceeded this level. Instead, several student associations across the country request the opening of schools with physical attendance only in those localities where the incidence of COVID cases is less than 6 per thousand inhabitants.

Government – On Monday the National Political Bureau of National Liberal Party – PNL will make a decision regarding the negotiations with Save Romania Union – USR and the Social Democratic Party — PSD, the interim prime minister and Liberal leader Florin Cîţu announced on Friday. According to him, at the meeting with PSD, the option of a rotating prime minister position was suggested, but they did not talk about portfolios. He said that the talks with USR, a former governing partner, would continue. On Thursday, Florin Cîţu declared after the negotiations with the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, that he found many things that could bring the two parties together. In his turn, the Social Democrat’s president said that the two parties are on a correct path, which could lead to the formation of a majority. The PNL and PSD negotiating teams are trying to find a governing formula, with a solid parliamentary majority, after two attempts to form a minority government failed. On Thursday evening, President Klaus Iohannis announced that he would call the parties for consultations only when an assumed parliamentary majority is formed. We recall that the minority government made up of the PNL – UDMR headed by Florin Citu was dismissed by a no confidence motion.

EBRD — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development — EBRD estimates that Romanias economy will grow by 7% this year, after forecasting a 6% growth in the summer, the main engine behind growth being domestic demand, an EBRD report shows. For 2022, EBRD experts say that the European money that will be channeled through the Recovery and Resilience Program is to bring about increased investments and improved exports, which, together with the expected fiscal consolidation and a slowdown in private consumption, could translate into an increase in the GDP by more than 4%. However, the EBRD also warns in todays report that these forecasts are subject to a high degree of uncertainty. The main risk, in the case of Romania, is the evolution of the pandemic, given that Romania has the second lowest vaccination rate in the EU. Another risk is posed by the high prices of natural gas and oil, because Romania, like other states, is pressured to offset high energy expenditures for low-income households. (LS)