France and Germany thrust into lockdown as second COVID-19 wave sweeps Europe
29 October, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back to lockdown on Wednesday (Oct 28), as a massive second wave of coronavirus infections threatened to overwhelm Europe before the winter.
World stock markets went into a dive in response to the news that Europe's biggest economies were imposing nationwide restrictions almost as serious as the kinds that drove the global economy this year into its deepest recession in generations.
"The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated," Macron said in a televised address. "Like all our neighbours, we are submerged by the sudden acceleration of the virus."
"We are all in the same position: overrun by a second wave which we realize will be harder, more deadly compared to the first," he said. "I've decided that we have to return to the lockdown which stopped the virus."
Under the new French measures that can come into force on Friday, people will be required to stay static in their homes except to get essential goods, seek medical attention, or exercise for up to 1 hour a day. They'll be permitted to go to work if their employer deems it impossible to allow them to do the job from your home. Schools will remain open.
As in the darkest days of spring, anyone leaving their house in France will will have to transport a document justifying being outside, which is often checked by police.
Germany will shut bars, restaurants and theatres from Nov 2-30 under measures agreed between Merkel and heads of regional governments. Schools will remain open, and shops will be permitted to operate with strict limits on access.
"We need to take action now," Merkel said. "Our health system can still cope with this challenge today, but as of this speed of infections it will reach the limits of its capacity within weeks."
Her finance minister, Olaf Scholz, posted on Twitter: "November will be a month of truth. The more and more infections are forcing us to take tough countermeasures so that you can break the next wave."
France has surged above 36,000 new cases a day. Germany, that was less hard-hit than its European neighbours early this season, has seen an exponential rise in cases.
In america, a fresh wave of infections has been setting records with six days to go until Election Day. President Donald Trump has played down the virus and shows no sign of cancelling public rallies where his supporters often won't wear masks or keep a safe distance.
European stock markets closed at their lowest levels since late May on Wednesday. In america, the S&P 500 was down 3 %.
In order to blunt the economic impact, Germany will reserve up to €10 billion (US$12 billion) to partly reimburse companies for lost sales. Italy has set aside a lot more than €5 billions.
IF WE WAIT IT'LL BE TOO LATE
While leaders have already been desperate in order to avoid the crippling cost of lockdowns, the brand new restrictions reflect alarm at the galloping pace of the pandemic from Spain, France and Germany to Russia, Poland and Bulgaria.
"If we wait before intensive care units are full, it will be too late," said German Health Minister Jens Spahn, whose country already has used patients from its neighbour the Netherlands, where hospitals have reached their limits.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said on Wednesday that hospital beds were at 90 per cent of capacity in 16 parts of the united states, while officials have warned that even well-equipped health systems like those in France and Switzerland could reach breaking point within days.
Hopes that new treatments might curb the spread were dented when the top of Britain's vaccine procurement task force said a fully effective vaccine may never be developed and that early versions were apt to be imperfect.
The latest figures from the World Health Organization on Tuesday showed Europe reported 1.3 million new cases in the past seven days, nearly half the two 2.9 million reported worldwide, with over 11,700 deaths, a 37 % jump over the previous week.
So far, a lot more than 42 million cases and more than 1.1 million deaths have already been recorded worldwide from the virus, that was first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan towards the end of last year.
Governments across Europe have been under fire for too little coordination and for failing woefully to use a lull in cases over the summer to bolster defences, leaving hospitals unprepared.
Since the weekend, police and protesters have clashed repeatedly in Italian cities from Naples to Turin. Restaurant owners and business groups have already been critical.
"At 6pm public transport is normally crowded. You take the risk because you should reach work. You wear a mask, you take hand gel with you," Elio Venafro said after moving away from a bus in central Rome on Wednesday. "It is the new normal."
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com