Today, Klaus Iohannis sent a very important message regarding the start of school, the president of Romania trying to convince Romanians from all over the country about the importance of vaccination in order to keep schools open and not move the learning process exclusively to the online environment.
"We are in the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and I wanted to discuss with the two ministers, on the one hand, the degree of readiness of the medical system, and, on the other hand, about the start of the new school year.
One thing is certain: the extent of the effects of this pandemic wave depends directly on the degree of vaccination of the Romanian population. Just the other day, health experts published a series of analyzes from which it appears that unvaccinated people constitute the overwhelming majority of cases of SARS-CoV2 infections and deaths due to COVID recorded in Romania recently.
There is no doubt that vaccination is the main measure of protection against getting sick and getting sick.
Romania is in a good situation in terms of the ability to ensure vaccination for all those who wish to be vaccinated. The experience of vaccination is the same in our country as in any civilized country, and this fact represents an example of normality.
The virus we are facing is far from being under control, especially since its spread is global and many countries are unable to vaccinate their citizens. These conditions also explain the emergence of new strains, and only vaccination significantly reduces the risk of serious illness and death.
Regarding our health system, the Minister of Health presented to me the measures planned to deal with the fourth wave. Doctors are already well trained and experienced.
The need to streamline the Public Health Directorates is obvious, and I expect more involvement from everyone to increase testing capacity, as well as to prepare the medical system to take on non-Covid patients as well. These patients must receive the treatments they need and not suffer amid the intensification of the fourth wave.
Unfortunately, school will also start for the second consecutive year under the specter of the pandemic. Last year's experience showed us that it is particularly important that the educational process takes place as much as possible with physical presence, of course, in increased health safety conditions, both for students and teachers.
Limited access to education has significant negative effects primarily for the younger generations, deprived of a normal development both in terms of skill formation and human interaction. It may even end up having dramatic medium and long-term consequences for our future, for all of us.
From the experience of the first year of the pandemic, it emerged unequivocally that online education cannot fully replace the classic form of education, with physical presence. At most, it can work as a temporary, provisional solution when the epidemiological situation is particularly serious.
Therefore, the goal of ensuring a quality education for as many students as possible remains a zero priority, although the health crisis is not over yet."
