WB Romania’s economy is supposed to
\nwitness a 4.3% growth this year after last year’s contraction of 3.9% says the
\nlatest World Bank report published on Wednesday. According to the same report,
\nthe economic growth would be supported by the improved economic activity in the
\nsecond half of 2021. This economic growth will also depend on the success of
\nthe vaccination rollout, the political response to the medical crisis as well
\nas by the EU performances. World Bank also expects a 4.1% economic growth for
\nthe next year with an inflation rate around 3% in 2021 and of 3.2% in 2022.
\nInflation is expected to go down to 2.9% in 2023. <\/p>\n
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COVID-19 Authorities in Bucharest have
\nagain pointed out that only through vaccination and observance of the
\nprevention rules will Romania be able to get rid of the pandemic. According to
\nphysician Andreea Moldovan, state secretary with the Health Ministry, the third
\nwave is different than the others, with a higher number of cases and increased gravity.
\nIn her opinion, if the prevention measures are relaxed and ignored by the
\npeople, they should remain in force for a longer period of time. Over 62
\nhundred fresh Covid-19 infections were reported in Romania on Tuesday out of
\nthe roughly 30 thousand tests conducted. The total number of infections since
\nthe outbreak in Romania exceeds 946 thousand with a death toll of 23,400. 175
\nnew fatalities were reported on Tuesday and a record number of 1,405 people
\nwere in intensive care. In another development, the national vaccination
\nrollout is in full swing in Romania with over 2 million vaccinated; half of
\nthem with the booster dose. The coordinator of the national vaccination rollout
\nprogramme, physician Valeriu Gheorghita on Tuesday announced that over 3.3
\nmillion doses are expected in Romania in April, including the first batch of
\n160 thousand Johnson & Johnson single-shot jabs. The vaccination
\ncapabilities are also to increase in the next month with another 156 centers
\nand mobile units. Family physicians are also expected to join the vaccination
\nefforts.<\/p>\n
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PROTESTS For the third time in a row, Bucharest
\nand several big cities across Romania on Tuesday saw large-scale protests
\nagainst the anti-Covid measures imposed by the authorities. Chanting
\nanti-government slogans, the protesters called on the authorities to cancel the
\ncompulsory wear of masks and reopen gyms and fitness facilities. Romanian
\npresident Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday said that he understands the discontent of
\nthe Romanians after a year of restrictions, adding these measures are the only
\nmeans that can help Romania to contain the pandemic. The Romanian president
\nalso said that protests are normal in a functional democracy but violence,
\nextremism and xenophobia are intolerable and completely unacceptable. The
\npresident’s statement came after some violent protests in some of Romania’s
\ncities. Opposition leader Marcel Ciolacu said that people took to the streets out
\nof poverty and despair caused by the ongoing medical crisis. <\/p>\n
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TALKS The Foreign Ministers of the USA
\nand Romania, Antony Blinken and Bogdan Aurescu respectively on Tuesday talked
\non the phone over Romania’s contribution to NATO, energy security and the rule
\nof law. Washington praised Romania for being a staunch NATO ally and for its
\ncommitment to strengthening security at the Black Sea, while Bucharest gave
\nassurances these approaches would continue. The two officials also tackled the
\ndeveloping bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and the efforts
\nof diversifying gas supplies in Europe. Minister Aurescu mentioned the priority
\nof Romania’s government concerning the country’s OECD accession and voiced his
\nconviction that the US would support Romania’s intention. He also highlighted
\nthe interest for the rapid advance in the Visa Waiver programme and an
\nincreased US military presence in Romania. <\/p>\n
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FOOTBALL Romania’s national football side will be up against Armenia in Yerevan
\ntoday in a game counting towards Group J of the World Cup 2022 preliminaries.
\nThe Romanians so far lost to Germany 1-0 but secured a 3-2 win against North
\nMacedonia. Romania’s group also includes Lichtenstein and Iceland. The first
\nsides in every group are to qualify for the final tournament, while the sides
\non the second position will be playing tie matches. Romania’s latest
\nparticipation in a World Cup was in France in 1998. Unfortunately last night in
\nBudapest, Romania’s Under 21 side failed to qualify for the quarter finals of
\nthe European Under-21 Championship after a nil-all with Germany in Group A. The
\nRomanians left the competition with their heads held high and no defeat in a
\ngroup with Germany, the Netherlands and Hungary. <\/p>\n
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(bill)<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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