Page 29 - bne Magazine Apri20

bne April 2020 Cover story I 29
Slovenia
VIRUS UPDATE
• Number of cases as of March 25: 528
• Number of deaths as of March 25: 3
• Comment: Among the infected are 73 healthcare
professionals. The Alpine Ski World Cup event and Ski Flying World Championships at Planica have been cancelled due to the crisis.
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES
• Lockdown: schools, bars, restaurants, sport centres, shops except for food and pharmacies have been closed. Gatherings and movement of people in public have been banned starting from March 20. All border crossings with Croatia and Italy have been closed for passengers. Slovenia introduced health checks on March 25 on its border with Austria. Air traffic for passengers was halted from March 17.
ECONOMIC MEASURES
• Government prepared a €3bn anti-coronavirus package of economic measures to help the economy.
• Slovenia delayed bank loan repayments to businesses and individuals affected by the pandemics by 12 months.
• Government will provide basic income to the self- employed whose business has been affected.
• Wages of health professionals working to fight the pandemic will be increased by up to 200%. The salaries of government officials will be reduced by 30% during the crisis.
• Retired people with small pensions will receive a bonus of up to €300 in April.
ECONOMIC FORECASTS (where available)
• Slovenia’s government institute IMAD projects GDP contraction of 6%-8% in 2020.
Romania
VIRUS UPDATE
• Number of cases as of March 25: 906
• Number of deaths as of March 25: 17
• Comment: the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is at
its early stage, running about two weeks behind France and Spain. The virus was imported by Romanian workers returning home from overseas jobs, especially from Italy, starting at the end of February.
The official number of infections is likely low because
of limited testing. This will improved after Romania received 2mn test kits from South Korea on March 22. Large numbers of infected subjects were reported in northeastern part of the country. Especially Suceava, Iasi which is also home to a large share of deaths, where a proportionally higher part of the population migrated to Italy in search of decent incomes.
The southwestern parts of the country (Timisoara) have also been exposed due to a large Italian community of businessmen exists and a significant part of population works abroad.
Several hospitals have been hit hard and two had to close when a large share of the medical staff were infected. As of March 24, 103 medical staff were infected.
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES
• 14-day quarantine or self-quarantine was gradually imposed starting the end of February to people coming from abroad and the penalties were tightened for those breaching the rules; since March 24, anybody entering the country is subject to either quarantine or self-quarantine.
• The border is closed for foreigners as of March 25 • Flights were gradually banned to/from Italy, Spain,
France and Germany.
• Lockdown (people allowed to move out of their homes
only for going to work or buying food, with detailed written confirmation or declaration each time); schools (as of March 11), restaurants (as of March 16) and shops other than food stores and pharmacies (gradually, since March 16 to March 25) were closed down. Social distancing recommended and observed in the shops left opened and public administration offices that are still open.
• Hospitals defer as many cases as possible, when the medical situation allows; patients in good condition were sent home to make room for those infected. At least one hospital for each of country’s 40 counties was designated to manage COVID-19 cases. Tents are being prepared by military to host patients waiting to get medical treatment in hospitals, when needed.
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