COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Over 19.000 coronavirus infections have
\nbeen confirmed in Romania since the beginning of the outbreak 3 months ago. Of
\nthese, some 13.000.800 people have recovered and 1.259 have died. Most
\ninfections are reported in Suceava County in the northeast and in Bucharest. As
\nregards Romanian citizens abroad, 3.000 have tested positive for the virus, the
\nmost in Italy, Germany and Spain. A total of 106 Romanians have been reported
\ndead abroad.<\/p>\n
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COVID-19
\nWORLDWIDE – At global level the number of SARS CoV-2 infections has exceeded 6
\nmillion. 2.7 million people have recovered, but 370.000 have died. US President
\nDonald Trump announced he would cut off all relations with the World Health
\nOrganization, whom he accuses of serving China’s interests. The United States
\nis currently the most affected country in the world, with the highest numbers
\nof victims and infections. The US administration has repeatedly claimed Beijing
\nhas deliberately concealed the gravity of the epidemic at its outset, which
\nprevented Washington from taking the necessary measures to limit its fallout on
\nthe United States. Donald Trump said his administration has detailed the
\nreforms the WHO must undertake, but the latter refused to act. The American
\nPresident specified Washington would redirect the funding to other global
\nhealth emergencies worthy of his country’s attention. The American Medical
\nAssociation said the president’s decision will make overcoming the health
\ncrisis more difficult and dramatic, Radio Romania’s Washington correspondent
\nsays. Meanwhile in Berlin, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the US
\nbreaking relations with the WHO is a step backwards for global health, but
\npointed out the World Health Organization is in need of reform. European
\nCommission President, Ursula von der Leyen and the European High Representative
\nfor Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, urged the US to reconsider. Global
\ncooperation and solidarity by means of multilateral efforts are the only
\neffective and viable means to win the battle the world is facing, the two
\nEuropean officials said. <\/p>\n
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REPATRIATIONS – The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest
\nannounced that 550 Romanian citizens were repatriated on Thursday and Friday
\nfrom Spain, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Iraq. The action, which is
\nthe result of the efforts of several state institutions, is part of a wider
\nseries aimed at helping Romanians who have been affected by measures taken by
\nother states to prevent the spread of the pandemic return to the country. These
\npeople could not extend theirs stay abroad for various reasons, the Foreign
\nMinistry reports. We recall that the Romanian national passenger airliner TAROM
\nhas extended until mid-June the suspension of all flights to and from Italy,
\nSpain, Great Britain, France, Germany or Belgium. TAROM will however operate
\nspecial flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, London and Madrid over the
\ncourse of the coming days. <\/p>\n
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RELAXATION – Bucharest Government is planning on
\nfurther relaxation lockdown restrictions starting June 1. Romanians will be
\nable to travel between cities without a signed declaration. Taverns and beaches
\nwill reopen while observing social distancing rules. Open-air shows will admit
\na maximum number of 500 viewers, while sports competitions will unfold in front
\nof empty stands. International rail and road traffic will resume. Meanwhile,
\nshopping malls, schools, nurseries and playgrounds remain closed. The wearing
\nof face masks is mandatory in enclosed spaces, grocery stores, public means of
\ntransportation and at work. Romanians arriving from abroad will remain in home
\nisolation, together with their family members. <\/p>\n
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NOBEL CANDIDACY -
\nThe Doina Cornea Foundation, named after the famous Romanian anti-communist
\ndissident, on Saturday called on the whole of Romanian society, state
\ninstitutions, foundations and associations to support Ana Blandiana’s candidacy
\nfor the Nobel Prize for Literature. In a press release, the Foundation says
\nthis effort must restore Romania’s true values to their rightful place, making
\nthem visible in world contemporary literature, which would be very important.
\nAna Blandiana has published around 40 volumes of poetry, fiction, essays and
\nchildren’s literature. Her works have been translated into 25 languages and have
\nbrought her numerous international prizes. In the communist period the writer
\nwas banned on several occasions. Once communism fell, she was one of the
\nfounders of the Civic Alliance, which sought to restore Romanian democracy. In
\n1993, under the aegis of the Council of Europe, Ana Blandiana set up the first
\nMemorial of the Victims of Communism and Resistance in the world, joined by her
\nhusband, Romulus Rusan. The Memorial stands today in Sighetu Marmatiei, in the
\nnorthwest, in the very place where scores of illustrious politicians died in
\ncommunist prisons. <\/p>\n
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(Translated by V.
\nPalcu)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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