GOOD FRIDAY Orthodox believers who are a majority in Romania and Greek-Catholics
\nare today celebrating Good Friday, the day marking the death on a cross of our
\nLord Jesus Christ and his burial. Believers have this year been banned from
\nattending any outdoor or indoor religious services in order to comply with the
\nmeasures aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID pandemic. Christians will
\nbe able to watch religious services broadcast live on various TV channels and
\nonline transmissions. <\/p>\n
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PROGRAMME A state-sponsored programme on supporting the small and
\nmedium-sized businesses to benefit interest-free and commission-free loans has
\ntoday come into effect in Romania. The sum allotted for this programme is 3.1
\nbillion euros for working capital and investment. Finance Minister Florin Citu
\nsaid this programme is addressing all small and medium-sized businesses in
\nRomania, not only those, which have been affected by the pandemic crisis. The
\nprogramme is aimed at kick-starting the Romanian economy and 600 thousand jobs
\nwill be supported in the programme’s first stage. Companies willing to benefit
\nfrom the programme can register on the platform imminvest.ro. <\/p>\n
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MINISTER According to Romania’s Prime Minister
\nLudovic Orban the peak of the coronavirus pandemic has not been reached in
\nRomania yet. The Romanian official believes that this peak will be reached in
\nearly May and has again called on citizens not to leave their homes unless
\nnecessary. Orban went on to say that the executive’s intention is that students
\ntake their exams and complete studies at the end of the year as initially
\nplanned. Schools could reopen after May 15th. Authorities have
\nannounced 491 new cases of infection and the number of fatalities stands at
\n400. Nearly 1000 medical workers have so far tested positive for the virus most
\nof them in Suceava northern Romania and in Bucharest. 1508 people have been
\ncured and left hospitals. Romania has so far declared 8067 people infected, 22
\nthousand have been quarantined while over 50 thousand are in home
\nisolation. <\/p>\n
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ORDINANCE Authorities in Bucharest have issued another military ordinance,
\nnumber 9. Among other things, the ordinance extends the ban on flights to and
\nfrom 10 countries: The UK, Northern Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey,
\nIran, Italy, France and Germany. Under the same law, sailors are exempted from
\nbeing kept in isolation unless they present Covid symptoms as well as truck
\ndrivers and plane crews. Under the same ordinance, the export of wheat and
\nother derived products is no longer banned as the state reserves have been completed. <\/p>\n
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PANDEMIC Since its outbreak in China, the Coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly
\n141 thousand people the world over, two thirds in Europe. The United States has
\nreported most of the fatalities 35,688 followed by Italy 21,647, Spain 18,579,
\nFrance with 17,167 and Britain 12,868. The crisis’ social and economic impact
\nhas fueled concern among experts who believe the pandemic will bring the end of
\neconomy as we know it. OPEC has anticipated for 2020 a sharp drop in the crude
\ndemand worldwide due to the international economic blockage caused by the
\npandemic. Some pundits believe that Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal are in
\nfor deep economic recessions. According to European Commission Chief, Ursula von
\nder Leyen, Europe needs a new Marshall plan for public and private investment
\nand the creation of new jobs.<\/p>\n
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(translated by bill)<\/p>\n
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