The Week in review

New anti-COVID-19 measures implemented in Romania against the backdrop of the 4th-wave of infections

An Executive Order, recently issued by the Government, stipulates that the COVID Green Pass becomes mandatory in Romania. The rule applies for the localities where the reported infection rate stands at between 3 and 6 cases per 1,000 inhabitants. The document is the official proof of vaccination, the negative test result, or of recovery from illness. The pass is mandatory for stage performances, cinema theatres, sports competitions, wedding or baptizing ceremonies. Furthermore, no more than 50% of the public is allowed in cinema halls or theatres, in keeping with the institutions' seating capacity. No more than 30% of the people are allowed in bars, clubs or discotheques, while no more than 100 people will participate in various types of rallies. Against the backdrop of the growing number of reported Sars-CoV-2 infections, from the green area, Romania enters the yellow one. From one day to another, an increasing number of localities has announced they would enter the red scenario. Further restrictions have been put in place for the locals, in keeping with the reported infection rate. Also, Intensive Care Units have been reporting a growing number of patients, therefore the authorities are set to find solutions so that an extra number of beds can be made available for the ICUs. Against this backdrop, the vaccination pace, way below expectation so far, seems to be on the rise, since more than 10 million shots have been administered. According to specialists, as of September 28, it is perfectly safe for the third anti-Covid jab to be administered to the vulnerable people, as well as to healthcare or education employees.

The National Anti-Corruption Directorate to investigate the anti-Covid vaccine purchase in Romania

The National Anti-Corruption Directorate in Bucharest is opening an investigation into the procedure followed when the anti-Covid vaccines were purchased by Romania. There is suspicion of abuse of office and of undue gains, implying personal benefits for those involved. However, no suspects or defendants have been named so far. The prosecution is carried in rem (regarding the crime proper). Former Healthcare Minister Vlad Voiculescu, with less than five months at the head of the Ministry, has stated the decision to order the vaccines was taken by Prime Minister Florin Citu, who did not take into account the opinion of the Healthcare Ministry. Romanian as ordered an excessive number of vaccine doses and had to sell or donate part of them, otherwise the doses would have expired, former Healthcare Minister Vlad Voiculescu also said. Prime Minister Citu blames Vlad Voiculescu instead, who allegedly signed official documents, that including the documentation for the purchase of an unapproved serum. For a population accounting for less than 20 million people in mid-July, Florin Citu stated Romania ordered 120 million doses of vaccine for a number of years. Of the 18.5 million doses that have already reached Romania, nearly 2.1 million have been donated, more than 2.2 other million doses have been sold, nearly 750 thousand doses have expired and around 178 thousand doses are set to expire on October 31st.

Electricity and gas bills, compensated

The price for electrical energy and natural gas will be skyrocketing as of November 1st, so the bills will be compensated for household as well as for non-household consumers in Romania. Small and medium-sized enterprises and the small companies will also benefit from that measure. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party in opposition has submitted a draft law in Parliament stipulating the support of the SMEs so that they can cope with the price hikes. Social-Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu explained that the document stipulates a 50% compensation mechanism for the bills, but also a sum that will be deducted from the income tax, for a certain period of time, for those with no overdue payments to the state.

City Insurance goes bankrupt

The drivers who need to have their cars repaired based on an RCA promissory note issued by City Insurance will be compensated earlier, through the Insurance Guarantee Fund. According to an Executive Order issued by the Government, the drivers will no longer have to wait for the bankruptcy to be ruled by the court, in the case of the former leader company on the Romanian insurance market. Prosecutors have opened several cases related to the recent bankruptcy procedure of City Insurance. There are charges of embezzlement, money laundering and cybercrime. Romanian MPs have also called for an answer as to how the car insurance market crash was possible, when a couple of years ago, two other companies, Carpatica and Astra, had the same fate. The Senate's Economic Commission has summoned several members of the institutions and associations in the field for a hearing session.

Romanian President at the United Nations

President Klaus Iohannis has been the head of Romania's delegation at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. On that occasion, President Iohannis gave a talk stating an innovative approach was needed, so that a wide range of mutual challenges could be simultaneously addressed. The challenges in question pertain to healthcare, demographic changes, migration and limited resources, but also to climate change, the loss of biodiversity, extreme poverty and famine. As part of the summit on concerted international response against COVID-19, staged at the initiative of US President Joe Biden, Iohannis expressed his support for the countries around the world to have equal access to vaccines, therapies and diagnoses. The event running as Transforming Action for nature and people saw the Romanian president advocating the idea of new financing resources for nature to be used accordingly. Also in New York, Klaus Iohannis had a meeting with the Secretary General of the Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, as well as with representatives of Jewish organizations in the United States.

(Translation by Eugen Nasta)