November 24, 2021

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 24.11.2021, 13:55

COVID-19 ROMANIA – Some 2,800 new COVID
infections and 231 related fatalities were reported at national level on
Wednesday. The incidence rate in Bucharest has dropped to 2.87 per thousand
inhabitants, after peaking at 16.54 on October 22, the highest level reported
since the start of the pandemic. Interim Health Minister, Attila Cseke, has
called on public health agencies to remain vigilant despite the apparent drop
in the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The Romanian official has also asked
health institutions to prepare for the 5th wave of the pandemic,
which Valeriu Gheorghiţă, the
coordinator of Romania’s vaccination campaign, says is coming, considering the
alarming increase in the number of infections at European level. Valeriu
Gheorghiţă also announced the
European Medicines Agency is expected to green-light this month the Pfizer vaccine
for administration to children aged 5-11. So far, over 7.2 million people in
Romania have completed the full anti-COVID vaccination scheme.

COVID-19 WORLD – New
health safety restrictions have today taken effect in Germany, in an attempt to
keep the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in check. The green certificate is as
of today mandatory in workplaces and for all types of public transportation. In
addition to the measures adopted last week by the Bundestag, each land will
introduce its own restrictions. For instance, in the land of Bavaria, bars and
clubs will be shut down, and the famous Christmas trade fairs have been
cancelled this year. Other lands, such as Thüringen or Baden-Württemberg,
are also considering imposing a nighttime curfew, a measure already in place in
Saxony. In Germany, the vaccination rate stands at 68%, one of the lowest in
Western Europe. Italy is also facing an alarming resurge in the number of COVID
infections, and a curfew was introduced in the north of the country. So far,
84% of Italy’s population has received at least two doses of the anti-COVID
shot. The number of new cases is on the rise in France as well, where prime
minister Jean Castex tested positive for COVID-19. 88% of France’s population
over the age of 12 is fully immunized. The epidemiological situation has taken
a turn for the worse in Greece as well, where hospitals are under pressure due
to the large number of patients. The government in Athens says it is not yet
considering introducing a lockdown, since the measure will hit the economy
hard. The vaccination in Greece has exceeded 63%.

HEARINGS -
In Bucharest, ministers listed in the new coalition Cabinet led by Liberal
Nicolae Ciucă will today appear before Parliament’s specialized committees. The
PNL-PSD-UDMR government will comprise 20 ministers, the only woman being
Social-Democrat Gabriela Firea, who will take over the Ministry of Youth and
Family. Bogdan Aurescu will head the Foreign Ministry while Lucian Bode will
resume his mandate at the Interior Ministry. The Liberals will also control a
number of other important ministries, including the Justice Ministry, where Cătălin
Predoiu will return for a new term in office. The Social-Democrats have nine
ministries and the Government Secretariat. Adrian Câciu will be the new Finance
Minister, Vasile Dîncu will manage the Defense Ministry, while Alexandru Rafila
will be the new Health Minister. UDMR will preserve its ministries from the
previous cabinet – Cseke Attila will be Minister for Development, Tánczos Barna
Environment Minister while Eduard Novak Minister for Sports. UDMR leader,
Kelemen Hunor, and the first vice-president of PSD, Sorin Grindeanu, will be deputy
prime ministers. On Tuesday, the prime minister designate, Nicolae Ciucă,
submitted to Parliament the governing program and the list of ministers.

DECEMBER 1 – In Bucharest, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies are today convening in a
solemn sitting marking Romania’s National Day, December 1. President Klaus
Iohannis, the speakers of the two chambers of Parliament, the prime minister
and representatives of parliamentary groups are expected to address Parliament.
The list of guests also includes former presidents of Romania, the Custodian of
the Crown of Romania, Margaret, the heads of diplomatic missions to Bucharest
and representatives of international organizations. Romania’s National Day has
been traditionally celebrated on December 1, after the 1989 anti-communist
revolution. On this day, in 1918, the National Assembly convened in Alba Iulia
to adopt the unification of Romania with historical provinces with
Romanian-speaking populations.

AWARD – Rareş Traian Tuş,
a 10th-grade pupil with the Gheorghe Şincaiˮ High School in Baia
Mare, won silver at the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad hosted by Columbia
ad held over November 14-21. (VP)