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China and South Korea reported new spikes in coronavirus cases, triggering new concerns in countries where outbreaks had dramatically decreased, and further protests against pandemics erupted in Germany despite the reduction of many blockades in Europe.
In the United States, former President Barack Obama harshly criticized his successor Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster.”
The United States has seen 1.3 million infections and nearly 80,000 deaths in the pandemic, the most in the world by far, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.
Around the world, health officials are eager to see how much infection rates rise in a second wave as nations and states emerge from varying degrees of blockade.
China reported 14 new cases on Sunday, its first double-digit increase in 10 days.
People wear face masks in Beijing (Mark Schiefelbein / AP)“/>Eleven of the 12 domestic infections occurred in the northeast province of Jilin, prompting authorities to raise the threat level in one of its Shulan counties at high risk, just days after degrading all regions to low risk.
Authorities said the Shulan outbreak originated with a 45-year-old woman who had no recent history of travel or exposure, but that it spread to her husband, three sisters, and other family members.
Rail services in the county were suspended.
“The control and prevention of epidemics is a serious and complicated matter, and local authorities should never be overly optimistic, tired of war or unsuspecting,” said Jilin Communist Party secretary Bayin Chaolu.
Jilin also shares a border with North Korea, which insists that it has no virus cases, to the disbelief of international health authorities.
South Korea reported 34 more cases, as new infections linked to nightclub attendees threaten the country’s profits against the virus that has earned so much effort.
It was the first time that South Korea’s daily infections exceeded 30 in about a month.
President Moon Jae-in said citizens should not panic or lower their guard, but warned that “the damage to our economy is also colossal.”
Across Europe, many nations were reducing blockages further on Monday, even as they prepared to curb any new infections.
Germany, which managed to push new daily infections below 1,000 before deciding to reduce restrictions, has seen regional spikes in cases involving slaughterhouses and nursing homes.
By Saturday, the country’s public health authority said the new infections were above 1,000 again.
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A man walks through plastic circles on the ground indicating where to stop to respect the social against the spread of the coronavirus, at the Paris Saint Lazare station (Christophe Ena / AP)German authorities have expressed concern about the growing number of large protests, including one in the southwestern city of Stuttgart that drew thousands of participants.
Police in Berlin intervened on Saturday after hundreds of people failed to respect social distancing measures in anti-blockade protests in the German capital.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of Germany’s 16 states last week cleared the way for the reopening of remaining restaurants, hotels and shops.
The country’s soccer league will resume next week, despite several professional players testing positive for Covid-19, and more students will return to school starting Monday.
France, which has a similar number of infections as Germany, but a much higher death toll, is also allowing some younger students to return to school on Monday after nearly two months off.
Attendance will not be compulsory right away, leaving parents to make the difficult decision of whether or not it is safe to send their children to school.
Residents in some Spanish regions will be able to enjoy limited seats in bars, restaurants and other public places starting Monday, but Madrid and Barcelona, the country’s largest cities, will remain closed.
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