[ad_1]
Europe, which became the center of the coronavirus epidemic in the world last spring, reduced the number of cases to very low levels in the summer months with the measures and restrictions it took and breathed a sigh of relief.
However, with the relaxed measures and the cooling of the weather, the coronavirus nightmare has returned to Europe. In the two main economies of continental Europe, Germany and France, the record number of new cases in succession has been reached, while the restrictive measures have returned.
In France, where the outbreak was seen at its most severe, President Macron said the second wave would be harsher than the first and announced that as of Friday those living in France could leave their homes only for reasons of work and health and announced the second country-wide closure.
While deaths from Kovid-19 in France reached their highest level since April, it was announced Wednesday that 244 people have died and 36,000 437 people have contracted the coronavirus.
In his speech, broadcast live on televisions, Emmanuel Macron said that people can only leave their homes by filling out a form under the new measures. All social gatherings are also prohibited in the country.
Despite the closure, Macron said all utilities and factories should remain open, not allowing the economy to freeze or collapse.
HARD MEASURES ARE BACK IN GERMANY
In Germany, another country that has reached a record number of new cases, coronavirus measures are back.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced the closure of restaurants, bars, gyms and theaters. German health officials have announced that 89 people have died in the country from Kovid-19 in the past 24 hours and 16,000 774 new cases have been seen.
In her speech, Merkel said there was a need for ‘a great national effort’ to defeat the coronavirus and said they now need to act. Merkel said: “Our healthcare system can cope with this problem today. However, if the spread continues like this, we will fill the capacity of the healthcare system within a few weeks.”
Although the number of new cases in Germany is low compared to other European countries, the rate of spread of the virus in recent weeks has alarmed the government.
The so-called partial closure measures in Germany will come into effect from 2 November and will be implemented until 30 November.
Under the new measures, bars and restaurants will only be able to provide take-away services and social contacts will be limited to a maximum of 10 people from two separate families. Additionally, Bundesliga matches will be played again without an audience.
Despite the measures taken, schools and kindergartens will be kept open in the country. In addition, the German government will offer economic assistance to small businesses up to 75% of November 2019 profits.
HOW IS THE SITUATION IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES?
Although the number of cases has increased across most of Europe, not all countries have yet resorted to a full closure measure.
New measures have been put in place in Italy, one of the core countries of the first wave, which will be in effect for a month. All the bars and restaurants in the town will close at 18:00 and only deliveries will be available after this time. While swimming pools, theaters and cinemas were closed in Italy, weddings, baptisms and funerals were also prohibited.
It has been stated that schools and workplaces will be kept open in the country, while middle and high schools will continue distance learning.
In Spain, the government, which declared a state of emergency on 25 October, declared a curfew in all regions except the Canary Islands from 11pm to 6am.
While the partial closure was implemented in the Czechia, one of the countries where the pace of the epidemic was at its worst in Europe, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the situation was “critical” in Belgium.
HOW DID EUROPE GET THIS POINT?
While the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak hit some parts of Europe very hard, some regions survived the first wave relatively moderately.
While Italy, Spain, France and the UK were the countries most affected by the first wave, severe closure measures over time greatly reduced hospital employment, deaths and new cases, but caused damage to the economy of these countries.
The restrictions were lifted in the early summer. In many countries, shopping malls, bars and restaurants have reopened and travel measures have been relaxed. The number of cases, which began to rise again in August, has reached alarming levels in recent weeks.
Source link
