May 15, 2021
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 15.05.2021, 14:10
Covid-19. Today is the first day in which the relaxation measures
decided by the Romanian Government after the decrease of the infection rate with
the new coronavirus across the country are applied. Thus, the protective mask
is no longer mandatory outdoors, but wearing a mask is still a must in public
transport stops, markets, fairs and in areas where rallies, processions,
concerts or other types of gatherings take place. Traffic restrictions during
the night have also been lifted, and restaurants, bars and terraces can stay
open from 5 till midnight. Also, outdoor sports competitions can be organized
and held, at 25% seating capacity. Cultural events are also allowed, with a
maximum of 500 people who must follow certain rules. If the pandemic maintains
its favorable evolution, with the decrease in the number of contamination
cases, other restrictive measures will be lifted on June 1. On Saturday, authorities announced 729 new cases of Covid-19, out of 33,000 tests run nationwide. The Strategic Communication Group also reported 72 Covid-19 related deaths. Currently, there are 784 patients in intensive care.
School. 90% of the Romanian pupils will physically return to
school on Monday. There are about 2.6 million children living in localities
where the rate of infection with the new coronavirus is below one per one thousand
inhabitants. The Minister of Education, Sorin Cîmpeanu, has stated that there
are 2,527 such localities. Another 654, including Bucharest, have infection
rates above one in one thousand, and school will continue online. The Minister has
also stated that the syllabus for this year’s exams has been adapted, due to
the fact that most children attended online classes, but that the level of
difficulty of the National Assessment and Baccalaureate examinations will
remain the same.
DNA. The general mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, announced
that he has filed a complaint with the National Anticorruption Directorate
(DNA) concerning an estimated damage of several million euros. Elected, in
September 2020, as an independent, supported by the governing PNL and USR, the
mayor says that the municipality registered the damage during the previous
administration, led by the Social Democrat Gabriela Firea, currently a senator.
The ‘criminal scheme’ is all the more ‘cynical’, as the cemeteries in Bucharest
are concerned, Nicusor Dan said, also stressing that, taking into account the
legal provisions and the involvement of several public institutions in this
case, he cannot provide, for now, more details.
Volleyball. Romanian men’s volleyball national team meets, today, on home
turf, in Ploieşti (south), the Swiss national team, in a new match from the
second tour of Group E of the 2021European Championship preliminaries. The
Romanians defeated Albania 3-1 on Friday, after winning the match in the first tour
in Nitra, Slovakia. The winners of the 7 preliminary groups and the best 5
occupants of the 2 places qualify for the final tournament of the 2021European
Championship. The final round will be organized in four countries, Poland, the
Czech Republic, Estonia and Finland, between September 1st and 19th. (MI)
