Europe: the end of the pandemic is far away, the return to normality too

While several European countries are cautiously repealing or intending to revoke some of the restrictive measures in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus, there are frequent warnings that the successful end of the fight is still too far.

Although coronavirus outbreaks in some European countries appear to be stabilizing or declining, the pandemic is far from over, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Hans Kluge, warned Thursday.

He recalled that approximately half of the Covid-19 contamination cases worldwide and more than half of the victims occurred in Europe.

Kluge said that nearly half of coronavirus deaths in Europe occurred in nursing homes, calling it an “unimaginable tragedy.” In his care, “the level of care is notoriously neglected.”

He acknowledged that health workers in these facilities are often overworked and underpaid, and called for more guarantees and support. The WHO-Europe director called these health workers the “baffled heroes” of the pandemic.

The next warning came from the head of state, who has already slowly begun to relax some of the restrictive measures.

Germany It is still at the start of the new coronavirus pandemic and will have to live with it for a long time, said Chancellor Angela Merkel. “We are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, and we are still at the beginning of it. We have gained the time that was used to strengthen the German health system,” he told the Bundestag in Berlin.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany have increased by 2,352 to a total of 148,046, data from the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases showed today, marking the third consecutive day of accelerating new infections. The number of reported deaths has increased from 215 to 5094 in total. Germany is the fifth most infected with the new coronavirus after the US. The USA, Spain, Italy and France, but the number of deaths is relatively low thanks to early and massive tests.

Merkel expresses concern that Germans are not following social distance guidelines and this could lead to a new wave of the epidemic after the federal government and German provincial authorities agreed to open some stores this week and will discuss it on April 30. how to act after May 3.

“Precisely because the numbers give rise to hope, I feel compelled to say that this intermediate result is fragile. We are caught in the thinnest ice possible. Let’s not jeopardize achievement,” Merkel said.

The new coronavirus epidemic is the most serious challenge for Germany since the Federal Republic of Germany was founded after World War II, Merkel said. “We will live with this virus for a long time, and the question is how to prevent it from dominating our health system and causing numerous victims. This will continue to be a major problem for politicians in Germany and Europe for a long time to come,” the chancellor said.

Ministry of Health of Spain reported today that 440 people died from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, slightly more than the day before when the deaths were 435. The number of deaths increased to 22,157 and the diagnosed cases are already 213,024 compared to 208,389 on previous day (an increase for day with more than 4 600). The number of new infected has increased by about 2 percent in recent days, after a month of 35% growth.

Fernando Simon, director of the Emergency Health Center, noted that because the number of tests performed has increased significantly lately, an increase in recently discovered cases of the infection is expected. However, this did not happen, which, according to Simon, is a positive sign. However, he cautioned that the data must be interpreted with care. Meanwhile, 89,250 people have already recovered from the disease, accounting for almost 42% of cases.

Italy today reported more deaths from the new coronavirus compared to yesterday’s data. However, the number of new infected has decreased.

464 people died in Italy in the last 24 hours at 437 the day before. The total number of deaths was 25,549. During the last 24 hours, 2,646 new infections were registered, compared to 3,370 the previous day. Therefore, the total number of cases registered in the country is already 189,973.

Active cases decreased for the fourth consecutive day, from 107,699 to 106,848. There are 2,267 people in the intensive coronavirus compartment compared to 2,384 yesterday, confirming the downward trend. Those recovered were 57,576 compared to 54,543 a day earlier.

The Italian Civil Protection published for the first time data on how many people have been tested for a coronavirus in the country. The number is 1,053 million with a population of approximately 60 million. In Italy, a total of 1.58 million tests have been carried out, since many people have done it two or three times.

Northern Italy region Lombardy, the epicenter of the country’s new coronavirus epidemic, has begun implementing its own antibody testing program today. People are being evaluated at a time when the region is preparing to restart its economy after weeks of shutdowns and isolation.

616 people died from the new coronavirus caused by Britain in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 18,738.

Authorities do not include nursing homes, which are reported to have several thousand dead.

The UK has announced that it is launching a large-scale scientific study that will be sampled by many people in the country to detect antibodies against the coronavirus. Up to 300,000 people will participate in the program in one year. The purpose of the study is to determine the true extent of the spread of the virus. By selecting study participants, a representative sample will be drawn for the entire UK population. Preliminary results are expected in early May.

Life is unlikely to return to normal even after the most stringent restrictive measures are lifted, and social distance measures will remain in place until later this year and beyond, Prime Minister Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.

“What we are going to try to do is find a new normal position: a way of living with this virus while maintaining control. Social distance and the limitation of our contact with other people will be part of our lives for a long time, with al less until the advent of treatment and, ultimately, the vaccine provides us with different solutions. That could mean until the end of this year, or even more, “stressed the Prime Minister of Scotland.

Some companies in certain industries may return to work if they change the way they work to maintain social distance, Sturgeon said. Classrooms may need to be modified to allow more students to attend school remotely. However, important meetings and events are likely to be canceled in a few months, Sturgeon said.

Belgium today reported twice the prevalence of hospital discharge compared to newly admitted patients with Covid-19 24 hours a day. On Wednesday, 211 people entered for treatment and 367 were discharged. The death toll increased by another 230 to 6,490. Another 908 were infected (42,797 so far) with more than 180,000 tests.

Health authorities point out that the daily mortality rate in the country during the same period in the previous five years indicates an increase of 80 percent. Local media cites a study that so far only about three percent of the population has acquired immunity to the new disease.

In Czech Republic Long lines are now being tested in a study to detect undetected coronavirus infections in the population. Around 27,000 people between the ages of 18 and 89 across the country will be surveyed in the next two weeks. The results, to be released in early May, should help authorities adapt plans for restrictive measures.

Tests on people without symptoms have found more than 7,000 positives in the Czech Republic. 210 people have died, the health ministry said today. A record 8807 tests were reported yesterday, and growth in the past 24 hours in infections slowed to 99 for the third consecutive day.

Switzerland It will not require its citizens to wear protective masks when the restrictions begin to ease next week, the government said today. Healthy people do not need to wear masks in public places, and rules for keeping distance and washing hands remain the best precaution. However, in some areas, masks may be needed and retailers will receive one million masks a day for two weeks, authorities said.

Since April 27, Switzerland has lifted some restrictions, starting with the opening of hairdressers and beauty salons. However, in the Ticino Canton that borders Italy, trade restrictions will remain until May 3.

The health ministry said coronavirus deaths today are 1,217 to 1,187 yesterday. The number of positive tests has also increased, from 28,063 to 28,268. In recent days, new cases have decreased, which is why the authorities have decided to lift some restrictions on Monday.

Finland “It will adopt a hybrid strategy to return to a more normal life while continuing to fight the spread of the coronavirus,” said Finnish Prime Minister Sana Marin. Finland will gradually abolish the restrictions imposed, while conducting further tests. The contacts of the sick will be monitored and the sick will be isolated and treated, stressed Ms. Marin.

Next week, the government will decide whether schools can return to work after May 13. The ban on organizing large events, which brings together more than 500 people, was extended until the end of July. In Finland, there are 4,129 cases of coronavirus infection (an increase of 115) and 149 deaths. According to Marin, the epidemic is developing very quickly due to the quickly imposed measures. Later Thursday, it was announced that he was temporarily taking a telecommute job because a coworker found a man with coronavirus at his residence last week. The employee himself has not developed any symptoms and is currently in quarantine. Sana Marin also has no symptoms and feels well, adds her office.

In Slovenia Today 13 new cases have been confirmed, bringing the total number of patients to 1,366. There have been no deaths in the past 24 hours, and the number of deaths remains 79. Data shows that the epidemic is on the decline. This is also evident from the number of hospitalizers, now 80, with two less than the previous day and significantly less than at the end of March, when 119 people were hospitalized. Of the total hospitalized, 23 are in intensive care units, 24 fewer than the previous day.

Croatia Starting next week, the restrictive measures will be gradually phased out by opening more stores and launching public transport, Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic said. The country has been blocked since mid-March, leaving only grocery stores, pharmacies, and service stations open. So far, it has registered 1981 cases of infection and 50 victims.
“The epidemiological situation is under control. Now we can gradually focus on restoring economic activity. But we must be very careful not to lose what we have achieved so far,” said Plenkovic.

Starting April 27, all but one of the main shopping malls will be open. Activities that can provide services will also be resumed without the need for close customer contact. Starting May 4, services that provide close physical contact, such as hairdressing studios and beauty salons, will reopen, but with special protection measures. Starting May 11, meetings of up to 10 people will be allowed at a safe distance. They will also open the main shopping centers. On the same date, elementary schools will open the door to younger students.

Bars and restaurants will also be able to start operating on May 11, but customers will only be able to enter their open spaces and with adequate guarantees.

The government of Hungary will decide next week on the future of quarantine measures, Prime Minister Victor Orban said today.

The current quarantine measures are in effect until May 3, and a new set of measures will be needed after that date to allow the economy to return to normal. The new set of restrictions after May 3 will ensure that those most vulnerable to the coronavirus are protected, as economic activity resumes, the spokesperson added.

Orban said he intends to present a plan on May 3-4 for a gradual return to normal. In Hungary, 2,284 cases of coronavirus have been reported and more than 200 have died.

More than 10,000 have become confirmed cases of new coronavirus infection in Romania. The number of infected people increased by 386 people in the last 24 hours. So far, 2,478 Romanians have recovered from the disease. The number of victims of the disease increased to 527.

The government of Lithuania announced that restaurants and museums will be opened soon as part of the phasing out of restrictions. Lithuania already allowed last week to open stores that have a separate entrance from the street, and all other stores will open tomorrow. The hairdressing salons, museums and open-air restaurants will be open from April 27. The number of clients in establishments will continue to be limited and masks will continue to be compulsory in public places. Kindergartens, schools, and universities remain closed, and public events are still prohibited.

In the country with a population of 2.8 million, there are 1,370 cases of infection, including 28 deaths.

During the day Ukraine They registered 578 new infected coronaviruses, the fastest growth since the crisis began. Therefore, the total number of infected in the country reached 7,170. So far, the virus has led to 187 victims in Ukraine and 504 patients have recovered.

Russia It has registered 4,774 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours: a decrease in the number of new cases for the third consecutive day, and the total number of infections has reached 62,773, reported the operational headquarters to combat the spread of the new coronavirus. In the last 24 hours, 42 coronavirus patients died, for a total of 555 deaths.