November 17, 2020
Click here for a roundup of local and international news
Newsroom, 17.11.2020, 13:55
COVID-19 Romania reports the highest SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate in 24 hours: over 43%. On Monday the authorities announced 4,931 cases out of around 11,200 tests. The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic in late February is now over 365,000. With the 149 deaths reported on Monday, the death toll exceeds 9,000, whereas the number of patients in intensive care is now 1,187. Nearly 70% of the total number of patients have recovered. As of today, 5 towns and a village in Alba County, central Romania, are under a 2-week lockdown because of the large number of coronavirus infections. Also as of today, Constanta city in the south east is closing parks and playgrounds, and streets, pavements and market places will be disinfected on a daily basis. The city of Sibiu (centre) and 3 other localities in the same county also introduced a lockdown on Monday, while the city of Bistriţa (centre) is waiting for approval from the National Public Health Institute to implement the same measure.
FIRE Investigators have completed inquiries into the fire that occurred on Saturday at the ICU of the Piatra Neamt County Hospital, treating Sars-Cov-2 patients. The criminal case concerns manslaughter and bodily harm offences, as 10 people died and 7 others were injured. Five of the victims could not be identified and DNA tests were required. Doctor Ioan Cătălin Denciu remains in a serious condition—he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to being transferred to Belgium, and the injuries are more severe than originally thought. The physician has 2nd degree burns on 75% of the body, which he suffered while trying to rescue the patients from the intensive care unit during the fire. The manager of the Piatra Neamţ Hospital has resigned. Joint teams from Public Health Directorates and the General Inspectorate for Emergencies have been conducting inspections, since Monday, in all intensive therapy units across the country, to check electrical installations and the state of medical equipment. The health minister Nelu Tătaru says many hospitals underwent rushed revamping in 2020, and now the authorities have to check whether safety rules were complied with.
UNIONS Members of the SANITAS healthcare workers union Tuesday observed a moments silence for the victims of the Piatra Neamt hospital fire, in front of the Government headquarter. SANITAS had scheduled a rally for Tuesday, but the union decided to replace the protest with a commemoration of the victims and of the healthcare workers who lost their lives on the job. Unionists warn that the tragedy may occur again, anywhere in the country, because of the worn out equipment and overworked personnel. They call on civil society to put pressure on politicians to reform the Romanian public healthcare sector. SANITAS officials Monday submitted a list of demands to all county prefect offices.
GAUDEAMUS The 27th edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair organised by Radio Romania since 1994, is taking place online until November 22nd. The event will end on Sunday and will take place exclusively online due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Attending the event are more than 100 companies, among which prestigious book publishers and distributors, music and educational games producers. Hundreds of events can be followed online on gaudeamus.ro, the website of the event, which this year is organised jointly with elefant.ro. Writer Norman Manea, nominated several times for the Nobel Prize for Literature, is the honorary president of this edition of the Gaudeamus book fair.
MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldovas ex-PM, the Pro-European Maia Sandu, is the first woman elected president of the country. In Sundays ballot she won 57.75% of the votes, according to the final data announced by the Electoral Committee in Chişinău. The incumbent president, pro-Russian Igor Dodon, who got 42%, announced however he was challenging the result. Maia Sandus priorities include ending corruption and public money theft and reforming the political class. The election result is a moral victory of pro-European forces which want genuine change, political commentators in Chisinau say. However, they warn that a tense period may follow, because Igor Dodons Socialists hold the largest number of seats in Parliament. (translated by A.M. Popescu)
