COVID-19 curfews, lockdowns reimposed in European nations amid spike in new cases

With resurgence of new coronavirus cases, European nations have w reimposed curfews and shut down schools in a bid to contain spread of deadly virus. Most European governments had eased lockdowns over summer to revive hard-hit ecomies, however, with a spike in cases all over continent, countries have agreed on tougher measures. According to reports, Europe has been recording around 100,000 new cases daily and surging infections rates are w testing governments’ resolve to keep school and n-COVID medical care going. 

European countries reimpose restrictions 

As cases in France increased rapidly, President Emmanuel Macron recently anunced night curfews for four weeks in Paris and or major cities. In an interview on national television, Macron said that curfews were to halt temporarily parties, moments of conviviality where re are 50 or 60 people, festive evening because, unfortunately, se are vectors for acceleration of disease. He added, “We’ll get through if we stick toger”. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said that she and or German leaders have agreed on tougher measures. While she didn’t give any details on new restrictions, she, however, said that country is in a phase of ‘exponential growth’ and daily numbers show that. 

READ: WHO: European Cases Rocket, Strong Limits Needed

Amid rising cases, on October 14, Pope Francis also had to maintain safe distance for well-wishers at his weekly audience. In Lisbon, after Portugal Football captain Cristia Ronaldo tested COVID positive, government said that incident simply showed that everyone was at risk of getting infected. Czech Republic, on or hand, shifted schools to distance learning and furr also plans to call up thousands of medical students. Czech government also ordered hospitals to cut n-urgent medical procedures to free up beds. 

While Poland is ramping up training for nurses and considering military field hospitals, Moscow is moving students to online learning. rrn Ireland has also anunced to close schools for two weeks and restaurants for four. Irish PM Michael Martin even described rrn Ireland’s rise in cases as ‘hugely worrying’. 

According to World Health Organisation, United Kingdom, France, Russia and Spain even accounted for more than half of Europe’s new cases in week to October 11. Dr Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, on Thursday, said that virus was spreading rapidly across continent, with exponential increases being reported in daily cases and matching percent rises in daily death rates.

British PM Boris Johnson, who is facing opposition calls for ar nationwide lockdown, has taken up a regional approach to curb spread of virus. In Belgium, government has anunced that hospitals must w reserve a quarter of ir beds for COVID-19 patients. 

READ: Some European Officials Use Virus As A Cover To Target Roma

European Commission signs JPA amid short

With a new wave of coronavirus across continent, European Commission has signed a joint procurement agreement (JPA) that would allow bloc to purchase additional 5,00,000 doses of remdesivir antiviral drugs. Remdesivir has been cited as one of only two drugs approved for use in treatment of COVID patients. 

JPA has replaced an Emergency Support Instrument (ESI), that enabled European Commission to procure Gilead's remdesivir drug for European Union Member States, including UK. JPA enables participating countries in EU and European Ecomic Area (EEA) and UK to purchase drug for both real-time demand and stockpiling needs, which will be coordinated by European Commission. 

(Im: AP)

READ: Paris Goes Under Curfew As Europe Battles Spike In Coronavirus Cases

READ: Czech Republic Tops Record Surge In COVID-19 Infections In Eastern Europe