Monday, April 27th

Update on the COVID-19 tally in Romania

The number of Romanian infected with the new virus has topped 11.000, according to the latest official report, 60 days into the COVID-19 crisis. On Sunday, the number of new cases has doubled compared to the previous day, to 401 infections, but the number of people tested was also higher, as almost 10.000 tests were performed across the country. 301 new cases were also reported on Monday, taking the total number of infections to 11.339. The death toll has also risen to 619, meaning a 6% mortality rate from COVID-19 in Romania. More than 3,000 people – that is 28% of the total number of cases – were declared cured and discharged.

The Romanian airliner Tarom is placing around 1,000 employees into furlough

About 1,000 employees of the Romanian air transport company Tarom are going on furlough as of today. By the end of this week, they will be joined by an additional 100 people. The employees will receive 75% of the basic salary, in lune with their jobs. Tarom employs a total of 1.900 people and those who will not go into technical unemployment will work fewer days a week – four days instead of five. A decision is expected on the resumption of overseas flights, as the measure to suspend travel for several flights operated by Tarom is due to expire the following days.

Hundreds of Romanian seasonal workers have departed for Germany

Around 350 seasonal workers have left the Sibiu International Airport on Sunday, with two chartered planes, to go to Nürnberg and Karlsruhe in Germany. In the last weeks, thousands of seasonal farming workers have taken the air route from Sibiu to several destinations in Germany, and a plane also carried workers to Austria. The Romanian Transport Minister, Lucian Bode, has said that he is due to talk to the Austrian Minister for European Affairs in order to clarify all aspects related to special trains that will transport seasonal workers. Mr. Bode also said that he received an official letter from the Austrian Embassy in Bucharest regarding trains on the route Timisoara-Vienna.

Mădălina Brotăcel, RADOR