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COVID-19 Romania has so far confirmed over 20 thousand Covid infections. Out of these more than 14,100 patients have been cured and released from hospitals. 1318 people have been killed by the disease so far. 3,100 Romanian nationals have been confirmed infected abroad, where 114 have already died. Romania's Health Minister Nelu Tataru has again said that wearing a mask in public places and transport vehicles remains compulsory and that prevention measures must be maintained until there is no risk for community contagion.
OUTLOOK In its latest communiqué, Standard & Poor's rating agency has confirmed Romania's rating to 'BBB-/A-3' for long and short term loans in foreign and local currency with a negative outlook. Although the agency expects the pandemic's negative economic effects to lead to an increase in the country's government debt to 43% of the GDP in 2020, it also estimates that significant consolidation measures will be implemented upon the general election in 2020. Romania's rating outlook remains negative as the agency believes the balance of foreign payments and of the budget may be at risk in the following 18 months, unless political decision-makers can stabilize and consolidate budgetary direction after this pandemic-induced recession. S&P believes Romania's economic activity will start improving in the second half of this year and in 2021 the country may see a 4% economic growth. Romania's current account deficit is expected to increase up to 5% of the GDP in 2020 and to 4% of the GDP until 2023 in the wake of increasing demand and a steady consolidation of exports.
POLICE Romania's Interior Ministry has increased the number of police troops deployed during the Pentecost mini-holiday in this country. So roughly 21 thousand police, gendarme and firefighters have been deployed around the country to ensure law and order during the holidays. Romania's motorways will be monitored by 17 hundred road police with over 300 radar guns backed by helicopters from the General Aviation Inspectorate. Close to 52 hundred gendarme troops have been deployed in the regions with a potential higher number of visitors, such as the tourist resorts. More than 180 gendarmes from the mountain corps are expected to be present on various mountain routes.
HOLIDAY Orthodox and Greek-Catholic believers from all over the world, including from Romania will be celebrating Pentecost on Sunday, marking the day when the Holy Spirit came down upon the 12 apostles enabling them to convey God's message in foreign languages they had never spoken before. On the same day, upon Apostle Peter's speech, almost 3,000 people embraced Christianity, making up the first Christian community in Jerusalem, the nucleus of the future Christian Church. Thousands of Romanians have taken to various resorts on the Prahova Valley, the Danube Delta and the Black Sea coast for this holiday.
(translated by bill)
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