July 30, 2021

COVID-19 - A new batch of over 100,000 doses of anti-COVID-19 vaccine produced by Moderna will arrive in Romania today. So far, Romania received over 1.7 million dozes of the Moderna vaccine, while over 700,000 have already been administered. We recall that, starting next month, children aged 12-17 can get the anti-COVID jab produced by Moderna, additionally to the Pfizer vaccine. Also today, Johnson & Johnson will be delivering over 93,000 doses of its own vaccine. So far half a million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine reached Romania, of which less than half have been administered to the population. Romania is closing in on the 5 million vaccinated people mark, most of whom have completed the full vaccination scheme. The authorities on Friday announced 153 new cases of COVID infection, in addition to 1 related fatality. 49 people are currently in intensive care.

MOLDOVA - Pro-European president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, today signed the decree to appoint Natalia Gavriliță as Prime Minister of Moldova after a round of consultations with parliamentary parties. A former Minister of Finance in the Sandu Cabinet in 2019, Natalia Gavriliță has two weeks to decide on her team and submit a governing program to Parliament. She was previously designated Prime Minister in February, but was not supported by the Parliament majority controlled by the Socialists. On Thursday, the new Parliament decided on its leadership. The Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), which supports president Sandu, holds the majority. Its leader, Igor Grosu, will serve as Parliament Speaker. PAS holds 63 seats, the Bloc of Socialists and Communists 32 and Shor Party 6.

FESTIVAL - Cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic, the Medieval Sighişoara Festival, the longest-lasting festival of its kind in Romania, will this year bring together artists, craftsmen and a large number of guests. The only medieval citadel still inhabited in southeastern Europe, Sighişoara will this weekend see warriors, knights, ladies of the court and master craftsmen pouring in from all corners of the country and from abroad. Today, the medieval play The Farce of Master Pathelin, stage directed by our colleague from the Aromanian Service, Toma Enache, who is also the festival's stage director, will be premiered. Entry is free of charge, face masks are mandatory and only vaccinated people or those presenting a negative PCR test for COVID-19 can attend the plays.

FOOTBALL - FCSB football club was ousted on Thursday from Europa Conference league after losing to Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan 5-3 at the penalty shootout in the second preliminary round. Also on Thursday, another Romanian team, Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe was eliminated by Spartak Trnava of Slovakia, losing 4-3 at the penalty shootout, also in the second preliminary round of Conference League. The third team representing Romania in the competition, Universitatea Craiova, was also knocked out after ending 0-0 the home match against KF Laci of Albania.  In Champions League, CFR Cluj will be playing Young Boys Berne of Switzerland in the third preliminary round. In the previous round Young Boys ousted Slovan Bratislava, while CFR Cluj won against FC Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar.

OLYMPICS - Romania ranked 4th in the overall medal standings in rowing at the Tokyo Olympics after grabbing three medals, one gold and two silver. New Zealand ranked first, followed by Australia and the Netherlands. We have met our objective of winning two medals, the Romanian Rowing Federation said, adding that our athletes' performance is all the more notable as our country didn't win any medals at the London Olympics of 2012, and won only one bronze medal in Rio. The gold medal was won by the Romanian lightweight double-scull crew made up of Simona Radiş and Ancuţa Bodnar. The Federation also praised the medals won by the men's crews, the first after a break of 29 years. The Romanian four crew, made up of Mihăiţă Vasile Ţigănescu, Mugurel Semciuc, Ştefan Constantin Berariu and Cosmin Pascari, won silver, while the men's pair, made up of Marius Cozmiuc and Ciprian Tudosă also won silver. Today, the Romanian women's eight crew ranked 6th in the A finals. This is the second edition in the last 41 years when Romania doesn't make the podium, the only other exception being the 2012 London Olympics. Also today, Alin Alexandru Firfirică failed to qualify to the final of the discus throw event, ranking 17 in the general standings. On Thursday, swimmer David Popovici ranked 7th in the final of the of 100-meter freestyle event.

WEATHER - A wave of extreme heat continues to grip Romania. Most regions are under a code yellow alert for extreme heat and thermal discomfort, while Bucharest and seven counties in the south are under a code orange alert. Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are expected locally, in addition to strong wind and hail. Highs will range between 30 and 39 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest was 30 degrees. (VP)