Wednesday, 31st March 2021

Romania exceeded the threshold of 2 million people vaccinated against COVID on Wednesday

Romania exceeded the threshold of 2 million people vaccinated against COVID on Wednesday, and over half of them received the second dose. In addition, there are more than 1,100,000 reservations for vaccination, and about 760,000 people are on the waiting list. The National Medicines Agency launched a brochure, available on the website vaccinare-COVID.gov.ro, containing information about the four vaccines authorized in the European Union. From the brochure people can find out what are the indications by age groups, warnings and contraindications, as well as possible side effects for each authorized vaccine.

Fines after violent protests on Monday night in Romania

After the violent protests that started on Monday night and continued until Tuesday, the Romanian Gendarmerie imposed over 650 fines, amounting to over one million lei (over 200,000 euros), in several cities of the country and in the capital Bucharest, where the protest against COVID restrictions degenerated after midnight on Monday. The highest fines were applied in Bucharest. Video footage taken in the capital shows a group of young people destroying a bus station, an electronic information screen and a soft drink vending machines. Protesters also threw stones at security forces, and authorities said they had identified 188 people who had resorted to violence and risked criminal cases.

The US criticizes corruption in Romania, in the first State Department report on human rights

The United States again criticizes corruption in Romania in its first State Department report on human rights published by the Biden administration. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that, as far as Romania is concerned, the State Department’s 2020 report shows, among other things, that there is a widespread corruption at the official level. The Romanian judiciary has taken measures to convict and punish officials who have committed illegalities, but the Romanian authorities have not had effective mechanisms to enforce punishments and have postponed proceedings related to police abuses and corruption, which has led to many cases of acquittals, states the report of the US State Department.

Magda Baciu – RADOR