Alina Novaceanu

Parliament will convene on Thursday in an online meeting to debate and vote on President Klaus Iohannis' request regarding the extension of the state of emergency on Romania's territory, established under Decree No 240/2020. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 12,00hrs. The legal, defence and health committees of the two Chambers issued approval reports on Wednesday on the President's decree.

The Legal, Defence and Health Committees of the two chambers of Parliament gave, on Wednesday, approval reports for the decree of President Klaus Iohannis to extend the state of emergency by 30 days. Furthermore, the Economic Policy, European Affairs, Labor, Transportation and Education Committees also gave approval report for the decree.

Senior official with Romania's Ministry of Health Horatiu Moldovan said on Tuesday that there is talk of changing the country's COVID-19 testing strategy, given that in two weeks' time there could be more than 7,000 tests per day. He said that an increase in the number of tests for the frontline doctors and dialysis patients is being considered.

Health Minister Nelu Tataru said today that a military management might be appointed at the Vrancea County Hospital, and that he will be in the county capital city of Focsani on Monday for an assessment of the situation. "Focsani and Vrancea County are a sore spot at the moment. There's a widespread community transmission here.

As many as 310 new cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus have been registered in Romania since the last update, taking the total number of infections to 6,300, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) reports. A number of 204 patients are being treated in intensive care units. Of the infected persons, 852 were declared cured and discharged from hospital.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Thursday that over 30% of the Romanian economy is affected by the novel coronavirus epidemic, noting that he is not favouring austerity measures or price freeze. "Given that a large part of the economy has been affected by the epidemic, it is clear that economic growth will be affected.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Thursday that, according to the current assessments, the peak of the epidemic might occur between 20 April and 1 May, mentioning that this is the view of most specialists, because it's difficult to make a prediction of 100 percent probability.

The Chairman of Pro Romania, Victor Ponta, on Wednesday criticized the Liberals' initiative regarding the progressive taxation of special pensions from 10pct to 95pct. "It is April 1 - the liars from PNL [National Liberal Party] are also fooling people with the story of special pensions," Ponta wrote on Facebook.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Friday that Romania took extremely serious measures from minute one to combat the epidemic with the new coronavirus, while acknowledging that our country was not prepared initially and had a limited diagnostic capacity. "On 25 or 26 February, in Romania there was one case, in Spain there were two cases, in France there were a few cases.

Parliament has adopted on Thursday President Klaus Iohannis' decree on the establishment of the state of emergency on Romania's territory for a 30-day period. Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu announced that the decision to approve the measure adopted by Romania's President on the establishment of the state of emergency on the entire territory of Romania was unanimously approved.