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COVID-19 Over 1,600 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours were reported on Tuesday in Romania, along with 147 deaths, 17 of which from a previous date. Doctors warn that although ambulance services are receiving fewer requests for home testing, a large number of teams are still being deployed. After several states announced finding the Omicron variant of the virus, which has over 50 mutations, tests in Romania are now taking into account this strain as well. Meanwhile, the vaccination rate remains low, with only around 12,800 people getting the first dose on Monday, and almost twice as many booster doses administered on the same day.
REPATRIATION The Romanian nationals stranded in South Africa following the suspension of flights to the EU over the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, are scheduled to land today on Otopeni Airport near Bucharest. All the passengers will be tested and quarantined. The around 50 seats available in the Tarom aircraft that flew to Pretoria were offered to other EU member states to repatriate their own citizens, as part of the European civil protection mechanism. The Romanian foreign ministry announced today that after Moroccan authorities decided to suspend commercial flights to that country over Omicron concerns, the Romanian Embassy to Rabat is handling the situation of 72 Romanian tourists whose flights have been cancelled. The Romanian embassy has already taken steps to identify alternative flights. The foreign ministry urges citizens to analyse the situation carefully before traveling to countries affected by the new coronavirus variant and to check out the "COVID-19 Travel Warnings" section on the institution's home page.
NATO The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu takes part on Tuesday and Wednesday in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers held in Riga, Latvia. The meeting is a major landmark in preparing negotiations on NATO's new Strategic Concept and for the summit due in Madrid next year. Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania's support for preparing the new Strategic Concept, able to provide adequate response instruments to the challenges of the current security environment. According to the foreign ministry, Aurescu will also discuss the latest security developments in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the need to carry on efforts to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture in a coherent and comprehensive manner for the entire Eastern Flank, including the Black Sea region.
ST. ANDREW Christians around the world celebrate today St. Andrew's feast day. Andrew the Apostle is the patron saint of Romania. He spread the word of God and baptized the first people in today's Dobrogea, on the Black Sea coast. St. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross in the city of Patras, in Greece. Over 900,000 Romanians are named after St. Andrew the Apostle.
FAIR Romania is taking part, until December 2, in the 2nd edition of Egypt's International Defence Expo, EDEX 2021, hosted by Cairo. Public defence companies as well as private operators will be present. Some 400 companies from around the world are taking part in this year's edition, showcasing the latest technologies in the field of defence.
NATIONAL DAY 1,500 troops, Interior and Defence Ministry staff, as well as foreign military will take part on December 1 in a parade celebrating Romania's National Day in Bucharest. Alba Iulia will also host a military parade, a photo exhibition and concerts to mark the occasion. Proclaimed a national holiday after the 1989 anti-communist revolution, December 1 marks the completion of the Romanian nation state in 1918, after World War 2, by the union of all territories with predominantly Romanian population. (tr. A.M. Popescu)
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