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Spain announces a health emergency, France counts more than 50,000 new infections per day for the first time. But with the numbers, resistance is growing as well.
In Melbourne, the almost four-month lockdown can be ended. No new infections, no new deaths were reported there on Monday. During the night on Wednesday, the curfews in the Australian metropolis are lifted. In India, too, which has been severely affected, the number of infections has finally fallen compared to last week.
The incidence of infection in Europe is again increasing dramatically. In terms of absolute numbers, the USA remains the leader with over 800,000 cases in the past two weeks. But in a global comparison, France has moved up to third place – with a much smaller population of only 67 million. By comparison, the USA has 330 million people, and India, which is in second place, has 1.3 billion.
For the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, the number of new infections per day in France rose to over 50,000. The French government is now considering extending the curfews. So far, they mainly affected only the large cities.
Spain imposes health emergency
In Spain the health emergency was declared on Sunday. 15 days inner-Spanish journeys between the regions are forbidden. In addition there are now – with exception of the Kanarischen island night curfews in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez would like to maintain the state of emergency until the beginning of May, but he needs the approval of the parliament.
Belgium, Croatia and the Czech Republic also had to report new high numbers in new infections. In the Brussels region, masks must be worn everywhere since Monday, and a night-time curfew begins as early as midnight. Additional measures could be announced on Tuesday. From then on, more stringent measures will also apply in Slovenia. Citizens are no longer allowed to leave their own communities here without good reason. Croatia already wanted to get serious on Monday: Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović announced on Sunday that close contacts are to be restricted. No night curfew will be implemented.
Czech Republic gets ready for new measures
In the Czech Republic, head of government Andrej Babis is getting citizens in the mood for new measures in view of the new record figures: “Unless a miracle happens, we will have no choice but to tighten up the measures,” he said. The schools and most stores have been closed since last week. At the request of the Czech government, Vienna and Lower Austria sent 45 ventilators to Prague on Monday. In Slovakia, people have already been allowed to leave their homes since Saturday only to go to work and for urgent errands.
Switzerland, which had been in exemplary control of the pandemic for several months, is also severely affected. However, the virus has been spreading rapidly there for days. Minister of the Interior Alain Berset therefore put the population in the mood on Monday for long-lasting restrictions: “What we are preparing now will probably have to last for a very long time”. On Wednesday the decision about the measures for the coming weeks will be made.
Protests in Germany
Similarly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has convened the heads of state for Wednesday to tackle the massive infection figures. Within one week the number of new infections in Germany has doubled, government spokesman Steffen Seibert announced on Monday. What is particularly alarming, he said, is that the proportion of older patients is increasing again. Bavaria continues to be particularly affected. In the district of Rottal-Inn there, strict curfews have been in effect since the night of Tuesday – the second curfew in Bavaria since a lockdown was imposed last week in the Berchtesgardener Land. Similar measures are also threatening Augsburg, Schweinfurt and Weiden.
As the number of infections increases, so does the displeasure about the restrictive measures. There were riots in Italy at the weekend. In Berlin, too, about 2000 people demonstrated on Sunday. There were chaotic scenes and death threats against journalists, but nobody was injured. Also in Berlin, a building of the Robert Koch Institute was attacked. The health authority is responsible for Covid-19 in Germany. According to police, incendiary devices were thrown against the façade during the night.
— hp, Source: derstandard.at. Picture: stockilyapp.com
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