MESSAGE In his Easter address on
\nFriday, president Klaus Iohannis told the Romanians that the number of
\nfatalities worldwide is on the rise and Romania hasn’t reached the pandemic’s
\npeak yet. All restrictions are still in place and any rule violation represents
\na major risk, Iohannis added, urging the Romanians to stay at home and do not pay
\nvisits to friends or relatives these days in order to minimize the risk of
\ncontamination. The president has called on the authorities to remain vigilant
\nin the coming period. Over 36 thousand policemen, gendarme troops,
\nfirefighters, border police, local police and army troops will be on duty
\nduring the Orthodox Easter to enforce the measures imposed through the military
\nordinances being also ready to intervene in any situations that might threaten citizens’
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PROGRAMME A state-sponsored programme on supporting small and medium-sized
\nbusinesses to benefit interest-free and commission-free loans has today come
\ninto effect in Romania. The sum allotted for this programme is 3.1 billion
\neuros for working capital and investment. Finance Minister Florin Citu said
\nthis programme is addressing all small and medium-sized businesses in Romania,
\nnot only those, which have been affected by the pandemic crisis. The programme
\nis aimed at kick-starting the Romanian economy and 600 thousand jobs will be
\nsupported in the programme’s first stage. Companies willing to benefit from the
\nprogramme can register on the platform imminvest.ro. <\/p>\n
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TOLL Covid-19 has so far killed 400 and infected
\n8000 people in Romania. Roughly 1000 medical workers have been infected most of
\nthem in Suceava, north-eastern Romania and in Bucharest. Romania’s Prime
\nMinister Ludovic Orban says that the pandemic’s peak is estimated in early May.
\nHe has again called on citizens not to leave their homes unless absolutely
\nnecessary. We recall that 1500 people have been successfully treated and allowed
\nto leave hospitals. <\/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 has been banned in order for the state reserves to be
\ncompleted. <\/p>\n
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PANDEMIC Since its outbreak in China, the Coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly
\n150 thousand people the world over out of 2.2 million infected. The United
\nStates has reported most of the fatalities 35,688 followed by Italy 21,647,
\nSpain 18,579, France with 17,167 and Britain 12,868. The crisis’ social and
\neconomic impact has fueled concern among experts who believe the pandemic will
\nbring the end of economy as we know it. OPEC has anticipated for 2020 a sharp
\ndrop in the crude demand worldwide due to the international economic blockage
\ncaused by the pandemic. Some pundits believe that Italy, Spain, Greece and
\nPortugal are in for deep economic recessions. According to European Commission
\nChief, Ursula von der Leyen, Europe needs a new Marshall plan for public and
\nprivate investment and the creation of new jobs.<\/p>\n
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(translated by bill)<\/p>\n
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