Countries around the world announce stringent Coronavirus measures

Authorities around world turned to increasingly drastic measures to try to slow spre of new coronavirus Sunday, with lockdowns, curfews and travel restrictions spreing.

Soldiers and police sealed densely populated Philippine capital from most domestic travelers in one of Souast Asia’s most drastic containment moves. move mirrored a lockdown Spain anunced just hours earlier for its 46 million citizens.France ordered closing of just about everything rest of world loves about it — Eiffel Tower, Louvre, cafes and restaurants — as governments took increasingly desperate measures to put more between people and contain virus.

President Donald Trump anunced that U.S., which days ago barred travelers from most of Europe, will extend ban to Britain and Ireland. And more cities in U.S. put in place curbs on garings of more than a few hundred people, with one New Jersey city even anuncing an overnight curfew.In China, where virus was first detected in December, those arriving on overseas flights were routed to a converted exhibition center for initial checks before being shuttled off to ir homes or or quarantine locations.

It was clear, however, way center of gravity in crisis has shifted westward toward Europe and rth America. virus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed over 5,600.In a nationally televised dress Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez detailed battery of exceptional measures put in place as part of a two-week state of emergency to fight sharp rise in infections.

Later Saturday, Spain’s government said Sánchez’s wife has tested positive for coronavirus. Begoña Gómez and prime minister are in good health, goverrnment said.

Two ministers of Sánchez’s Cabinet, minister of equality and minister of regional affairs, h alrey tested positive earlier this week. ors member of Cabinet have tested negative.

In a lockdown similar to one alrey imposed in Italy, people will be allowed to leave ir homes only to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to hospitals and banks, or take trips related to care of young and elderly. All schools and universities were closed, along with restaurants, bars, hotels and or n-essential retail businesses.

“From w we enter into a new phase,” Sánchez said after a Cabinet meeting that lasted over seven hours. “We won’t hesitate in doing what we must to beat virus. We are putting health first.”

Spanish authorities said number of infections climbed past 5,700, half of m in capital, Mrid. That represents a national increase of over 1,500 in 24 hours. country h 136 deaths, up from 120. Spain has fifth-highest number of cases, behind China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.

For most people, coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. vast majority of people recover in a matter of weeks.Despite please for calm from authorities, shoppers packed supermarkets in Spain in morning. But overall, rmally bustling streets of country’s two biggest cities were ticeably quieter as mess sank in that social distancing is only way to stop pandemic.

“We h to close and remain shut for 15 days,” restaurant owner Rachel Paparardo said in Barcelona, which was alrey under regional restrictions. “But this is thing. It is just so more people don’t get infected and we can recover from this.”

Some flights bound for Spain turned around as word spre of lockdown. In Philippines, new restrictions for metropolitan Manila — home to more than 12 million people — that went into effect Sunday mean suspension of domestic travel by land, air and sea to and from capital region.Large garings like concerts, movies and cockfighting are prohibited and most government work in executive department offices will be suspended in metropolis for a month. School closures at all levels were extended and curfew was also anunced.

“If you’ll go to work, go. If you need to go out for medical treatment, go. If you’ll buy food, go, but or than that, stay home,” Philippine Interior Secretary Eduardo A told a news conference.

Countries around world have been moving to prevent ir health systems from collapsing under lo of all virus cases.

Paris followed or cities in shuttering major tourist attractions, and France anunced closing of all restaurants, cafes, aters and nessential shops starting Sunday. France has recorded at least 3,600 infections. It has banned all garings of more than 100 people, ordered all schools closed and asked companies to allow workers to stay home. France pressed ahe with plans for nationwide municipal elections on Sunday but ordered special measures to keep people at a safe distance and to sanitize surfaces.

In Italy, worst-hit European country, number of deaths climbed past 1,400 and infections surged roughly 20% overnight to more than 21,000 because of what authorities characterized as irresponsible behavior by people still socializing despite nationwide lockdown. Many Italian cities, including Rome and Milan, decided to close playgrounds and parks, too.

In Britain, death toll nearly doubled from day before to 21, and number of people infected rose to over 1,100. Ireland h 90 confirmed cases and one death as of Friday. Greece’s infection total approached 230 with three deaths, and police re arrested 45 shopkeepers Saturday for violating a ban on operations.

U.S. has seen 60 deaths and more than 2,100 cases. In hard-hit Washington state, where 40 have died and and more than 550 have been infected, officials said disease is straining supply of protective gear available to medical providers despite shipments from federal government.

Trump has tested negative for new coronavirus, president’s personal physician said Saturday. European countries took steps to isolate mselves from ir neighbors. Denmark closed its borders and halted passenger traffic to and from country. Travelers will be turned away at border if y are unable to show that y have “a legitimate reason” to enter — for example, if y are Danish citizens or residents.

Poland planned to close is borders at midnight and deny all foreigners entry unless y lived in Poland or h personal ties re. Czech Republic and Slovakia took similar action. Lithuania said it was introducing border checks at frontiers with Poland and Latvia.

Russia said its borders with rway and Poland will be closed to most foreigners beginning Sunday. In Middle East, Iran’s death toll reached 611, with nearly 13,000 infections, including senior government officials. In Pacific, Australia and New Zealand anunced that incoming travelers will be required to isolate mselves for 14 days, with few exceptions.

In New Zealand, passengers aboard a cruise ship in South Island tourist town of Akaroa were t being allowed off vessel Sunday while three passengers are tested for new coronavirus. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said that one of passengers on Golden Princess is being treated as a suspected case because that person has developed symptoms of disease and is a close contact of ar person who has been confirmed as having contracted COVID-19.

Bloomfield said y should get test results on Monday, and that officials are considering ir response should case be confirmed. He says one lesson from observing problems with virus spreing on or cruise ships is to avoid leaving everybody on board. Bloomfield didn’t elaborate on what form any response might take.

Im Credits: AP