With the second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic now raging through Europe, various governments have now re-imposed strict restrictive measures including curfews and states of emergencies, to contain the spread of the disease.
Late in October, a second phase of lockdowns was announced by France following daily Covid-19 caused deaths reaching their highest levels since April. The new restrictions, meant to be implemented for a month at least, however have a limited impact. According to health ministry data, after the lockdown was imposed, there was an immediate drop in infections and hospital admissions but which soon got reversed.
Residents can only get out of home for essential work and medical reasons. While restaurants and bars remain closed during this period, the government has allowed continuation of schools and factories. External borders of the country have been closed and all non-essential travel has been banned. People are however allowed to travel inside the EU but have to undergo Vobid-19 tests on arrival.
In Austria, a three-week lockdown is currently in force aimed to control the rise in Covid-19 cases and bring it under control by Christmas. One of the highest infection rates per capita in Europe has been registered in Austria. The daily new cases have reached nine times that of the peak during the first wave.
The previously enforced night-time curfew has now been extended for the day with residents required to stay indoors all day. There are however a few exceptions such as for shopping or exercising.
In Germany, a “circuit-breaker” national lockdown was started earlier this month to curb a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases. That included closing of restaurants, bars, cinemas and gyms and stopping all leisure traveling. However, schools are still open while worship and protests are still allowed.
However there has been a continued rise in daily infection rates which has dampened hopes of authorities that the situation would improve with the restrictions. It is now unlikely that winter events such as office Christmas parties would be allowed, said the country’s health minister.
In Portugal, a worse than the first wave of the Covid-19 infection is being witnessed - which has prompted one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe. The government has imposed a nightly curfew and weekend shutdowns in almost 200 municipalities in combining areas where more than three-quarters of the population live. If possible work from home should be followed by people, authorities have urged. However, schools, shops and restaurants still remain open. In actuality, people would have to stay indoors from 11pm to 5am, or from 1pm at weekends.
In Sweden, a light-touch, anti-lockdown approach had been doped by the government since the beginning of the pandemic. Authorities had hoped that such a strategy would create a high level of immunity to the disease which would mitigate a second wave. However, recent studies in the country have shown that there had been an overestimation of levels of antibodies in the population by the national health agency. And with recent surge in infections and hospitalizations, tighter controls have been imposed in several regions. However authorities still request and not mandate residents to follow restrictions.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)
Late in October, a second phase of lockdowns was announced by France following daily Covid-19 caused deaths reaching their highest levels since April. The new restrictions, meant to be implemented for a month at least, however have a limited impact. According to health ministry data, after the lockdown was imposed, there was an immediate drop in infections and hospital admissions but which soon got reversed.
Residents can only get out of home for essential work and medical reasons. While restaurants and bars remain closed during this period, the government has allowed continuation of schools and factories. External borders of the country have been closed and all non-essential travel has been banned. People are however allowed to travel inside the EU but have to undergo Vobid-19 tests on arrival.
In Austria, a three-week lockdown is currently in force aimed to control the rise in Covid-19 cases and bring it under control by Christmas. One of the highest infection rates per capita in Europe has been registered in Austria. The daily new cases have reached nine times that of the peak during the first wave.
The previously enforced night-time curfew has now been extended for the day with residents required to stay indoors all day. There are however a few exceptions such as for shopping or exercising.
In Germany, a “circuit-breaker” national lockdown was started earlier this month to curb a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases. That included closing of restaurants, bars, cinemas and gyms and stopping all leisure traveling. However, schools are still open while worship and protests are still allowed.
However there has been a continued rise in daily infection rates which has dampened hopes of authorities that the situation would improve with the restrictions. It is now unlikely that winter events such as office Christmas parties would be allowed, said the country’s health minister.
In Portugal, a worse than the first wave of the Covid-19 infection is being witnessed - which has prompted one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe. The government has imposed a nightly curfew and weekend shutdowns in almost 200 municipalities in combining areas where more than three-quarters of the population live. If possible work from home should be followed by people, authorities have urged. However, schools, shops and restaurants still remain open. In actuality, people would have to stay indoors from 11pm to 5am, or from 1pm at weekends.
In Sweden, a light-touch, anti-lockdown approach had been doped by the government since the beginning of the pandemic. Authorities had hoped that such a strategy would create a high level of immunity to the disease which would mitigate a second wave. However, recent studies in the country have shown that there had been an overestimation of levels of antibodies in the population by the national health agency. And with recent surge in infections and hospitalizations, tighter controls have been imposed in several regions. However authorities still request and not mandate residents to follow restrictions.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)
