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Europe is slowly returning to a total quarantine. The first European country to exceed one million cases, Spain, is about to re-establish the blockade. France has also exceeded this psychological threshold, while in Germany the death toll has exceeded 10,000 deaths. Also in Italy there is a growing debate about a quarantine of at least two weeks, at the national level. And in the Belgian capital, the shops will close at 20:00 and the exit to the street will not be allowed after 22:00. While the World Health Organization warns: we are in a dangerous moment, and it is only October.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO: We are at a critical juncture in this pandemic, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. In too many countries there is an exponential increase in cases, and this causes hospitals and ICUs to approach or exceed maximum capacity.
Europe has the strongest growth: more than 42%. 30 out of 53 European countries had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in one week, between October 16 and 22. At the continent level, there are more than 8 million infections and around 260,000 deaths. In Spain, at least 8 autonomous communities ask the Madrid government to make a decision for the entire country. Regional officials want traffic restrictions, especially at night, as already applied in France, Italy and Belgium.
Regional officers: I think we should apply these measures as much as necessary, even if they are said to be bad for the economy. We need to give people a chance at life. The economy is very important, but also people’s lives.
The state of emergency expires today, and that is why both Madrid and regional officials are willing to establish new states of emergency. In France, there have been daily reports of more than 40,000 infections for several days. And the death toll in the Hexagon soared: 298 in 24 hours, down from 162 reported Thursday.
Local: In the summer, I thought almost everything was over, but now the infection rate is increasing so fast again, so I’m not surprised to have come here. I wouldn’t say it turned my life upside down, but it’s annoying, because I can’t travel as much as I would like. It’s a traffic restriction so I can’t go out as much as I want to, but it’s a temporary situation, it will pass, that’s the situation.
Italy, in turn, is moving rapidly towards new restrictions. Although Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and other officials avoid uttering the word quarantine, the trend is clear. The daily rate is at the level of 20,000 new cases, and traffic restrictions and the closure of restaurants and bars no longer seem sufficient. On the other hand, tourism companies say that at this rate they will put the padlock on the door.
Vladimiro Bruno, owner of the restaurant: Now it seems that we are at war, we have never experienced anything like this before. We are in a very difficult situation.
Cristian Russo, owner of the cafe: I have been working here for 17 years. We are close to the Trevi Fountain and we have never seen such a crisis.
Meanwhile, to ensure that restrictions are enforced, police are patrolling non-stop in the big cities led by Rome. Fences have been installed that restrict access to certain areas, and restaurant owners and customers who ignore the new measures are forced to close their premises or go home.
Editor: Iulia Iancu
