Priority vaccination of teachers begins

The campaign to vaccinate teachers began in Romania on Wednesday. New centres were set up in Bucharest and around the country offering priority vaccination for teachers. According to official figures, almost 4,000 teachers received the AstraZeneca and Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines on the first day of this campaign. Appointments for teachers are made differently, with schools making lists with the staff who wish to get the vaccine and then send the list to the school inspectorates and then to the health directorates. More than 60,000 teachers will receive the vaccine by 10th March, adding to the 42,000 who have already got it via the official electronic platform and the 128,000 who have already made appointments on this platform.

Meanwhile, the number of pupils and teachers testing positive for coronavirus has continued to rise. In the first two weeks of the reopening of schools, 730 classes switched to remote learning because of positive cases among pupils and staff. More than 800 pupils and almost 640 staff tested positive for Covid since 8th February, when schools reopened for in-person learning for most children.

The National Public Health Institute said it noted a countrywide increase in the incidence rate of new infections over the past two weeks. The data indicate a cumulated incidence rate of more than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in most counties and the capital Bucharest, with most cases being reported in urban areas. The institute also noted an increase in the number of Covid infections in the last six days, to an average of 2,640 cases per day, to the levels recorded on 20th January. Weekly incidence rates are also on the rise among the 0-19 and 20-39 age groups.

The National Public Health Institute says it is considering three possible scenarios: first, a constant daily rise of 1%, leading to a daily average of 3,300 cases by 20th March; second, a constant daily rise 2%, leading to a daily average of 4,600 cases by 20th March; and third, a constant daily rise of 4%, leading to a daily average of 8,900 cases by 20th March. Based on the trend seen in the last seven days, experts are expecting the second scenario to be the most likely. (CM)