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THE SITUATION WITH Covid-19 continues to deteriorate in many parts of the world, but it is Europe that is suffering the brunt as it faces a second wave of the disease.
Dr. Michael Ryan of the World Health Organization said earlier this week that the continent is again an “epicenter” for Covid-19 as, like Ireland, countries begin to introduce new, tougher restrictions, including closures. .
And, as in Ireland, much of the comments concern hospital capacity and the demands that will be placed on health services during winter as the number of cases increases significantly.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, yesterday described the situation as “very serious” and suggested that “[national] exit strategies were partly too fast and measures were relaxed too early ”during the summer months.
According to the Center for Health Protection and Surveillance, Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate is 299.0 following the latest Covid-19 figures from last night. Our deaths per 100,000 people, according to ECDC figures, is 1.12.
France
14-day incidence per 100,000 – 626.2
Deaths in 14 days per 100,000 – 3.74
In the last two weeks alone, France has registered more than 419,000 new cases of Covid-19. That means that about a third of all coronavirus cases in France during the pandemic have occurred in the last fourteen days.
The number of daily deaths in France has not dwarfed the daily deaths observed in April, but it has also increased significantly in recent weeks.
Efforts to limit the spread of the virus, such as a 9 p.m. curfew, have not been effective in preventing the large increase with nearly half of the country’s intensive care beds now full.
The deterioration of the situation has exceeded “even the most pessimistic projections,” President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday when announcing a new blockade for the country.
Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube
Starting tonight, nonessential bars, restaurants and businesses will be forced to close and written statements will be required for people to leave their homes.
Factories and farms will also be allowed to operate, and some public services will operate, to limit the economic damage that would result from the total closure of the country.
And, in a major difference from the first closure, schools will remain open.
“As in other parts of Europe, we are overwhelmed by a second wave that will probably be more difficult and deadly than the first,” Macron said yesterday.
“If we did nothing … in a few months we would have at least 400,000 more deaths,” he said.
Already more than 3,000 intensive care patients are forcing hospitals to find beds, and “no matter what we do, nearly 9,000 people will be in intensive care by mid-November,” he warned.
The lockdown will last until December 1, as in Ireland, but the French president added a hopeful caveat in his announcement yesterday.
“If in two weeks we have the situation under better control, we can reassess things and hopefully open some businesses, particularly for the Christmas holidays,” he said.
“I hope we can celebrate Christmas and the New Year with the family,” he said.
Germany
14-day incidence per 100,000 – 148.18
Deaths in 14 days per 100,000 – 0.57
In the early moments of the pandemic, the number of daily cases in Germany did not exceed 10,000. Now, he regularly exceeds this number.
The count reached a new 24-hour record of 14,964 yesterday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for Disease Control. The number of new cases had doubled yesterday from a week ago, while the number of people in intensive care has also doubled in the past 10 days.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Source: PA Images
The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care in Germany was just under 400 in early October, but yesterday it was 1,570.
Health Minister Jens Spahn, who works from home after testing positive for the virus, said urgent action is required.
“If we wait until the intensive care beds are full, then it will be too late,” he told regional broadcaster Suedwestrundfunk.
And Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken action, yesterday announcing a new round of closures for the cultural and leisure sectors, as well as food and beverages.
The strict restrictions that will take effect from Monday, November 2 until the end of the month, will limit outdoor contact to people from two households.
Schools, kindergartens and shops will remain open, but hotel stays will only be allowed for “necessary and expressly non-tourist purposes”.
Bars, cafes and restaurants are due to close, although take-out and delivery services may continue.
Professional sports, including Bundesliga football, have also been turned away behind closed doors.
Theaters, operas and cinemas will also have to scrap their shows during what is traditionally their busiest season.
Merkel acknowledged that the measures are “strict and arduous” but called for a “national effort.”
At the current rate of new infections, “we will reach the limits of the health system,” he warned.
Belgium
14-day incidence per 100,000 – 1,208.26
Deaths in 14 days per 100,000 – 6.22
The situation has deteriorated very rapidly in Belgium.
Belgium, with 11.5 million inhabitants, is now the country with the most cases per capita in the world, if microstates such as Andorra are excluded.
The number of people admitted to hospital with the coronavirus has almost matched the level of the first wave of the epidemic in the spring, the latest figures show.
The situation has gotten so bad in Belgium that Covid-positive doctors have been asked to keep working. More than one in five people screened is confirmed to have Covid-19.
The government spokesman for Covid-19 said earlier this week that the number of cases could actually decrease, even though deaths and hospitalizations will increase, “as we no longer test asymptomatic people.”
Spokesman Yves Van Laethem said Monday: “Within 4 days, at the end of the week, we should exceed the 1,000 patient milestone in intensive care. Without changing the curve of our behavior, we should reach 2,000 patients in intensive care in two weeks, that is, our maximum capacity ”.
NEW: Belgium could reach maximum intensive care capacity next Friday if current rate continues
Currently 911 #coronavirus ICU patients but it has doubled every 8 days
Reports that one of the richest countries in Europe may have to depend on international aid to cope
– Darren McCaffrey (@DarrenEuronews) October 29, 2020
The country has already imposed a partial closure again: bars and restaurants have been closed since October 19, there are regional curfews during the night, and gatherings of more than four people are prohibited.
The government will meet again tomorrow and Prime Minister Alexander de Croo could announce stricter measures after speaking with health experts.
Czech Republic
14-day incidence per 100,000 – 1,208.26
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Deaths in 14 days per 100,000 – 6.22
The situation in the Czech Republic has seen it among the worst affected countries in the European Union for several weeks.
The country of 10.7 million people has recorded more than 260,000 cases and more than 2,300 deaths since the March outbreak.
Its health minister, Roman Prymula, who is now out of work after being caught violating restrictions, said on Monday that “they are approaching levels that threaten the capacity of the Czech health system.”
He also said that recent restrictions have had a “negligible impact” as theaters, museums and galleries were closed earlier this month and mandatory use of masks indoors was implemented.
An empty old town square in Prague
Source: Xinhua News Agency / PA Images
Announcing new measures last week, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said: “What happened was somehow predicted, but no one expected its scope … we don’t have time to wait.”
He also grimly predicted that the country’s system would “collapse” between November 7-11 if no action was taken.
A night curfew is in effect in the country and the army has built a 500-bed reserve field hospital. Bars and restaurants are closed, while schools are limited to distance learning.
A decision is expected next week on whether to extend these blocking measures.
Netherlands
14-day incidence per 100,000 – 668.89
Deaths in 14 days per 100,000 – 2.77
Two weeks ago, the Netherlands introduced a partial lockdown to try to stop a sharp increase in cases, including closing bars, cafes and restaurants. It has failed to stop the increase in infections.
Daily cases have now started to eclipse 10,000 and Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Tuesday that these current restrictions were unlikely to be lifted before December.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Source: Utrecht Robin / ABACA / PA Images
Rutte has said, however, that it may be too early to assess whether the partial lock has worked.
But it has left the door open for another more complete lockdown, with a press conference scheduled for next Tuesday.
“The numbers are still high and they have to go down,” he said.
Elsewhere
Poland It’s doing particularly badly in recent weeks, with new record cases and tougher measures introduced last weekend, including closing cafes and restaurants, and online learning for most students.
In Portugal, there is a local blockade in the northern region that will last until November 2. The government has also voted to make masks mandatory in the country’s outdoor spaces, while alcohol cannot be sold after 8pm.
Until the new year, alcohol sales are also restricted in Denmark after 10pm, while bars, restaurants and clubs must close at the same time.
In Greece, there is a night curfew in the capital Athens and its surroundings. Masks should be worn outdoors and in indoor public spaces.
Most countries in Europe, even those that perform better than others, such as Norway they are introducing stricter restrictions.
In Sweden, the country that chose not to enter the blockade in the spring remains firm, mainly.
Uppsala in Sweden is the first region in the country to be affected by local restrictions.
Source: Claudio Bresciani / TT
What it is doing is introducing specific measures aimed at curbing the spread and residents of the Uppsala region are being asked to avoid public transport and not meet people outside their home for a period of two weeks. People are also asked to avoid gatherings and cultural events, while staying away from indoor spaces whenever possible.
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