January 16,2021

Vaccination. Romanian prime minister Florin Cîţu today received the Covid vaccine at the Central Military Hospital in Bucharest. On Friday, Romania entered phase two of its mass vaccination programme, targeting people over the age of 65, chronic patients and workers in key sectors. According to official figures, more than 180,000 people were immunised in phase one, which began on 27th December, accounting for two thirds of those targeted by this phase. The authorities said 309 vaccination centres are in operation at the moment. President Klaus Iohannis also received the vaccine, on Friday. He said afterwards that the vaccine is safe and efficient, and immunisation and compliance with the protection rules will help us overcome the pandemic. More than 3,200 new infection cases and 66 new deaths were recorded in Romania in the last 24 hours. 1,089 Covid patients are in intensive care. Romania saw more than 691,000 cases and 17,160 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Government order. The government adopted an emergency order on Friday on the establishment of vaccination centres and the recruitment and payment of the staff involved in the vaccination process. Health minister Vlad Voiculescu said his ministry would cover the cost of the vaccination campaign and that he relied on GPs to inform their patients about the vaccine and make the appointments. He said GPs would receive additional pay for this service. He also gave assurances that schools will be safe to return to if they reopen on 8th February. He pointed out that education workers can get the vaccine during phase two of the vaccine rollout.

Europe vaccine. Despite a slowdown of Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine deliveries by in late January and early February, Pfizer gave assurances that the doses expected by the European Union in the first quarter of the year will be supplied as scheduled, said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen after health ministers from six EU countries signed a joint letter voicing deep concern over the announced delays. Meanwhile, tighter restrictions are being imposed in Europe following a spike in cases. Germany and Sweden reached new daily record death tolls. Austria remains in lockdown, but is reopening schools on 25th January, while Italy has extended its state of emergency. France is also seeing rising infections and Portugal enters a new lockdown for at least another month, following an exponential rise in new cases. Some 94.3 million coronavirus infections and more than 2 million related deaths are reported globally, according to the worldometers website.

Biden rescue plan. US president elect, Democrat Joe Biden unveiled his first rescue package titled "the American rescue plan", at a time when national security is on high alert over the threat of armed attacks by extremists ahead of Biden's inauguration on 20th January. The stimulus package, worth 1,900 billion dollars, earmarks more than 400 billion to combat the pandemic, aiming, among others, to step up vaccination and safely reopen schools within one hundred days. The plan also earmarks 350 billion dollars in assistance to states and local governments and direct payments of 1,400 dollars to American families. Joe Biden also asked Congress to approve an increase in the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars per hour, more than double the current level, and approve funding to fight hunger, which is affecting more and more Americans with small and medium incomes amid high unemployment during the pandemic. While Biden's ambitious relief plan reflects the political change in Washington, it is expected to be met with opposition from the Republicans.

Interest rate. The Central Bank of Romania has decided to cut the monetary policy interest rate from 1.50% to 1.25% per year starting next week and by 0.25% the interest rate on deposits and credits. The National Bank's monetary policy decisions influence the cost of the loans granted by banks. Prime minister Florin Cîţu welcomed the cut in the monetary policy interest rate as it confirms the drop in the inflation rate in the medium and long term and is proof that the fiscal policy is no longer a destabilising factor in Romania.

Handball. In women's handball, CSM Bucharest are today playing the Norwegian side Vipers Kristiansand as part of Champions League Group A. The Norwegian side won the first leg in October 30:25. Russian side Rostov Don top the group with 13 points, followed by CSM Bucharest with 11 points and Metz Handball from France with 10 points. Vipers Kristiansand are in fifth place with 8 points. Together with the Hungrian side Gyor, they are the only side not to lose a match in the Champions League group stage.

Weather. It's very cold around the country, with temperatures expected to drop significantly compared with recent days, especially at night. Snow is reported locally. An alert for cold weather has been issued for the north-west, north-east and the centre of the country and then for the rest of the country until Wednesday morning. The highs of the day are between minus 9 and plus 1 degrees Celsius. In Bucharest it was minus 3 degrees at noon. (CM)