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European nations began preparing for a slow reopening when the U.S. epicenter in New York reported Sunday in its battle against the deadly pandemic.
Governments around the world are now debating how and when to ease blockades that have kept more than half of humanity (4.5 billion people) confined to their homes and paralyzed the global economy.
Europe saw encouraging signs on Sunday, with Italy, Spain, France and Britain showing drops in daily death tolls and slowing infection rates.
The continent accounts for nearly two-thirds of the nearly 165,000 reported deaths worldwide of more than 2.3 million reported infections, according to a AFP account.
In the United States, the country with the highest number of deaths and infections, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the outbreak was “on the decline,” although he warned that “it was not a time to flare up.”
Also read: UK Prime Minister recovered from virus but was criticized for being “missing in action”
Growing evidence suggests that blockages and social estrangement are slowing down the spread of the virus. That has intensified planning in many countries to begin easing the brakes on the movement and easing crushing pressure on national economies.
Spain, badly affected, extended a closure nationwide, but said it would ease restrictions to allow children to spend time outdoors. Switzerland, Denmark, and Finland began reopening stores and schools.
Germany will allow some stores to reopen on Monday after declaring the virus to be “under control”, while Italy, once the most affected European country, reflected on the restrictions.
Iran, which has the deadliest outbreak in the Middle East, allowed some “low risk” companies to reopen on Saturday.
Hopeful tentative signs come with the United States and China arguing over President Donald Trump’s suggestions that a laboratory in Wuhan Ground Zero City may have sparked the pandemic. The laboratory rejected such theories as “impossible”.
Close up of the ice rink morgue
Spain recorded 410 new deaths on Sunday, the lowest daily count in nearly a month, and a figure that the health ministry’s emergency coordinator, Fernando Simon, said “gives us hope.”
Authorities are even beginning to shut down some makeshift facilities set up to alleviate the overloaded health system, including a morgue on a Madrid ice rink.
France said a national blockade in place for a month was beginning to pay off, with a drop in the number of deaths and hospitalizations.
“We are adding points against the epidemic,” said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, while insisting that “we have not yet emerged from the health crisis.”
In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government, itself recovering from the virus, faced fresh criticism for its prompt response to the crisis and the shortage of protective equipment.
Also read: Trump expects American Muslims to follow the same rules of social distancing in Ramazan as Christians during Easter
‘Past the highest point’
The United States has the highest number of cases of any country, with more than 759,000 confirmed infections and almost 41,000 deaths.
But in New York State, Governor Cuomo said: “We are past the highest point now, and all indications at this point are that we are on the decline.”
After days of disputes between Trump and several governors over the scope of federal aid to the states, Cuomo adopted a moderate tone on Sunday, saying the joint federal and state effort had been a “phenomenal achievement.”
But he warned that without further federal aid, states with liquidity problems will suffer severely.
“You will see a cut in hospitals in the middle of this,” he said.
Americans and others around the world have been irritated at orders to stay home, and some have taken to the streets to protest.
New protests against the shutdown over the weekend attracted hundreds of people in states like Colorado, Texas, Maryland, New Hampshire and Ohio. Many waved American flags and some carried weapons. But others stayed in their cars or wore protective masks.
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis allowed selected beaches to reopen for “essential activities.”
Although fog covered the area around Jacksonville Beach in the state, those in attendance “kept their distance” from each other, said Captain Rich Banks of Neptune Beach Ocean Rescue.
Trump fueled another fury attack over the weekend by lending support to protests against the closure restrictions, which according to medical experts save countless lives.
In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly claimed that the threat of the virus is exaggerated, joined hundreds of protesters in Brasilia who opposed orders to stay at the home of state governors.
Brazil has the majority of infections in Latin America, a region where AFP Sunday’s account showed that the total number of cases exceeded 100,000 with almost 5,000 deaths.
For many of the world’s 260 million Orthodox Christians who celebrated Easter, the celebration was held at home, with online or television services.
Coronavirus: the main Saudi religious body recommends prayers at home in Ramazan
‘There should be consequences’
Australia has called for an independent investigation into the global response to the pandemic, including the handling of the crisis by the World Health Organization and the actions of China.
The pandemic has had devastating economic effects worldwide.
In the poorest and most densely populated countries, many governments struggle to impose restrictions on movements that accumulate misery for those in need.
In the United States, 22 million Americans have lost their jobs, and food banks are struggling to meet growing demand.
The virus has also put the spotlight on nursing homes as dangerous places for infection.
A British charity warned that the death toll at such facilities in Britain could be five times higher than official figures.
The disease can also affect residents’ mental health.
“It is grim not to be able to see anyone. To be alone. You fear the worst at times like these,” said Marc Parmentier, 90, who lives in a nursing home on the outskirts of Brussels.
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