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Despite intensified measures in the fight against the pandemic, the corona figures in the Czech Republic continue to rise. On Wednesday 9,544 new cases were recorded, the Ministry of Health announced. This was the highest number in one day since the beginning of the pandemic. In Italy, the government is examining the possibility of introducing limited lockdowns on a local basis. On Wednesday there were 7,332 new infections there, more than ever before within 24 hours.
The total number of people ever infected in the Czech Republic rose to just under 140,000, and around 2,700 people are treated in hospital. The number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in connection with a Covid 19 disease rose to 1,172. The government announced that it would buy around 4,000 hospital beds in order to set up makeshift facilities in exhibition halls for a possible onslaught, among other things.
“The figures are catastrophic – there’s really a great hurry,” said Prime Minister Andrej Babis according to the CTK agency before his departure for the EU summit in Brussels. He said he had also discussed possible aid “with the Bavarian side”, but that they wanted to cope with the situation on their own if possible.
Since Wednesday, all restaurants, inns and bars have been closed. The consumption of alcohol in public is prohibited. All schools have introduced distance learning. Only a maximum of six people are allowed to meet both inside and outside. Sports and cultural events are prohibited. The compulsory wearing of masks has been extended. The EU member state has almost 10.7 million inhabitants.
New measures in Italy could affect provinces in Lombardy and the southern Italian region of Campania, where the number of infections has risen sharply. “It is obvious that the increase in the number of new infections is a cause for concern. However, the regional health network is standing up to the situation,” emphasized Francesco Boccia, Minister of the Region, according to the media.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stressed that he wanted to spare his country a new lockdown after the one in March and April, but everything depended on the behavior of the citizens. The priority now is to stop the increase in infections. “If the number of people in intensive care units increases, we will be in trouble again,” Conte argued.
Stricter rules in London
Stricter corona rules will apply in the British capital London from Saturday. In view of rapidly rising infection rates, members of different households are no longer allowed to meet indoors, as London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced. Meetings in pubs or restaurants are also not allowed. Khan advocated a national lockdown of a few weeks to contain the epidemic more effectively. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has so far stuck to his regional level system.
Europe now expects a longer wave in the corona crisis without a major peak. At least that is what the European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) assumes, as Regional Director Hans Kluge explained in an online statement in Copenhagen on Thursday. He called for targeted, regionally and temporally limited measures to avoid “collateral damage” to health and society. “The pandemic will not stop on its own, but we can do it,” he said.
Kluge stressed that local “lockdowns” were still necessary. However, these no longer had anything to do with the complete “shutdown” of March, which was imposed in many European countries “because we were taken by surprise,” said the WHO European Director. “We should do everything in our power to keep the schools open”. He also said that health care should be maintained, especially with regard to cancer, preventive vaccinations and cardiovascular diseases.
— Hector Pascua, Source: kleinezeitung.at. Picture: stockilyapp.com
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