BRUSSELS: A raft of European nations together with Italy and Belgium took determined new measures on Monday to attempt to fight a second wave of coronavirus infections because the worldwide caseload topped 40 million.
The most recent international milestone got here simply hours after the quantity of people that have died from Covid-19 handed 250,000 in Europe, in line with an AFP tally, because the pandemic rampages throughout a lot of the continent.
Many governments are in search of to keep away from the full-on lockdowns imposed within the first wave as they battle to maintain their economies going however in some international locations, individuals are chafing in opposition to the brand new restrictions on every day life.
In Belgium, the place hospitalisation rose 100 per cent in simply the final week, bars and eating places had been closed on Monday for a month and a curfew will probably be bolstered in a single day.
Demise toll within the continent alone tops 250,000
“Managers, chefs, dish-washers, everyone is suffering,” Angelo Bussi mentioned as he put the important thing within the lock of his Brussels restaurant late Sunday.
“We don’t feel like anyone cares. It breaks my heart,” he advised AFP earlier than shrugging and strolling off into the night time. “Ah, well there we are, see you in a month.”
Belgium’s second main lockdown comes after Prime Minister Alexander de Croo warned the scenario was “much worse” than in March when there was an nearly full confinement.
Italy, the preliminary epicentre of Europe’s outbreak, additionally introduced contemporary curbs together with earlier closures for bars and eating places and a push to extend working from dwelling.
“We cannot waste time,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte mentioned, additionally flagging bans on novice group sports activities and native festivals.
In Poland, the place round half the nation is now designated as a coronavirus “red zone”, the federal government mentioned the nationwide stadium can be was a area hospital to assist ease the pressure on overwhelmed well being care services.
Masks-wearing obligatory
Switzerland in the meantime made mask-wearing obligatory in indoor public areas and put limits on public gatherings after infections doubled during the last week.
“The second wave is here, earlier and stronger than we expected, but we are prepared,” Swiss Well being Minister Alain Berset mentioned.
France imposed its personal in a single day curfew from the weekend in 9 cities together with Paris, affecting 20 million individuals, with a report 32,400 new infections reported on Saturday.
Whereas European nations imposed new restrictions, a lockdown was eased in Australia’s second-biggest metropolis of Melbourne on Monday, as residents flocked to reopened hair salons and golf programs that had been closed for greater than 100 days.
The variety of every day instances rose to 700 in August within the state of Victoria of which Melbourne is the capital, however following months of a strict lockdown it has fallen as little as one, with 4 recorded on Monday.
Melbourne hair salon proprietor Daniel Choi mentioned he was immediately totally booked till December.
“From yesterday, there are so many messages for me: `I want a haircut’. They want to change their style,” he advised AFP.
Whereas Melbourne’s 5 million inhabitants had been allowed to go away their houses for greater than two hours a day for the primary time since July, eating places and most different retail companies will stay shut till not less than November.
Printed in Daybreak, October 20th, 2020
