October 22, 2020 UPDATE

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 22.10.2020, 20:13

EIB
Hundreds of Romanian companies are going to benefit from a new funding scheme
devoted to the private sector, a 190 million euro package made available by the
European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the most affected sectors during the
pandemic. According to a communiqué issued by the aforementioned institution,
the package will be made available immediately and companies can apply at its
branches across the country. The EIB support to Romania is part of its 20
billion euro global response aimed at reducing the pandemic’s economic impact.

NATO
Romanian Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Thursday attended the North Atlantic
Council’s proceedings held in a video-conference format on the first day of NATO
ministers meeting. The Romanian minister highlighted the importance of an effective
adjustment to the present and future security challenges. The need for
providing a coherent allied response in terms of security in the Black Sea
region was also underlined. The meeting is due to continue on Friday as well.

MILITARY Two Romanian peacekeepers were wounded on Wednesday night in
Afghanistan, during a patrol mission. According to the Defence Ministry, they are
stable, under medical supervision at the hospital within the Kandahar Air Base.
The 2 are members of 191st Golden Lions Force Protection
Battalion, and were deployed to Afghanistan in August, for a 6-month mission.
Romanian troops have been present in Afghanistan since 2003, one year before
Romania was admitted into NATO. Nearly 30 Romanian servicemen have been killed in that country.

COVID-19 Romania reported on Thursday new record-high figures
in terms of COVID-19 infections: 4,902 cases out of over 34,000 tests conducted, and 98
deaths. More than 10,354 people are hospitalised, 778 of them in intensive
care. Since the start of the epidemic in Romania, the total number of cases has
reached 196,004and the death toll stands at 6,163. The Government
will amend the Quarantine Act today, in an emergency order, in view of
preventing hospital overcrowding. Patients with mild forms of the
disease and those without symptoms are to be treated at home, unless they
suffer from previous conditions, the health minister Nelu Tătaru explained. The
bill has been criticised by family physicians, who say examining patients at
home is out of the question because physicians would be at risk.

(bill)