March 10, 2020 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 10.03.2020, 20:19

COVID-19 Romania has reported over 100 people in institutional quarantine
and under medical investigation for possible infection with COVID-19, the Group
of Strategic Communication has announced. Over 11,500 people are in home
isolation and currently under medical monitoring. 28 cases of infection with
the new virus have been confirmed at national level while 5 people have been
declared cured and released from hospitals. All the patients under treatment
are generally in good condition, while the elderly and those suffering from
chronic conditions are being carefully monitored. On Monday, the National
Committee for Special Emergency Situations has decided to suspend courses in under-graduate
schools over March 11th and 22nd in order to prevent the
spreading of the disease. Road and rail transports between Romania and Italy have
been suspended until March 31st 2020. Air companies have to announce
their travelers from Italy, China, Iran and South Korea that they are going to
be quarantined in Romania.

EPIDEMIC The entire population of Italy, nearly 60 million people, were
put under lockdown because of the COVID-19 epidemic, after the government
decided to extend the restrictions introduced in northern Italy across the
country. According to the Radio Romania correspondent, the order signed last
night by PM Conte urges companies to allow employees to take annual leaves, so
as to reduce travelling even for professional purposes. The decision comes
after the number of coronavirus cases in Italy has reached over 10,000, with
over 630 deaths. The new action plan, dubbed by PM Conte I’m staying home, took
effect on Tuesday and is to stay in force until April 3. Travelling
across the Peninsula has been restricted, except for emergencies, healthcare or
business purposes. All schools and universities will be closed until April 3,
public gatherings are forbidden, the football championship is suspended, and
bars and restaurants will only be open until 6PM.

GDP The Gross Domestic Product went up 0.1% in the Euro zone
and 0.2% in the EU in the 4th quarter of 2019 compared to the previous
quarter, according to data released on Tuesday by Eurostat, AFP reports. Among
Member States, the strongest growth was reported in Ireland (1.8%), Malta
(1.7%) and Romania (1.5%). In year-on-year terms, in Q4 2019 compared to the
corresponding period of 2018, the GDP rose by 1% in the euro zone and 1.2% in
the EU. The member countries with the highest growth rates were Ireland (6.3%),
Hungary (4.6%), Malta (4.3%) and Romania (4.2%). For Romania, figures made
public previously by the National Statistics Institute indicate that in 2019
the GDP rose by 4.1% since 2018.

TALKS Romania’s acting PM Ludovic Orban on Tuesday held talks with
parliamentary parties and groups, on the roadmap for early elections. The vote
could be held in June, but coronavirus concerns have prompted proposals to
postpone it to this autumn, when parliamentary elections are also due. The only
party that announced it would not take part in the talks is the Social Democratic
Party, which claimed the political agenda of the National Liberal Party is
completely at odds with the current priorities of the Romanian citizens.
Meanwhile, on Thursday Parliament will be holding the investiture vote for the
Cabinet headed by the PM designate Florin Citu.

(translated by bill)