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Europe, and much of the world, shut down society during the peak of the pandemic this spring.
Within a few days of April, a situation was reached in which 3.9 billion people, more than half the world’s population, were strongly ordered or recommended to stay at home. It was a unique moment in world history.
Unique was also the support governments received for their strong action.
Although the schoolchildren had to stay home, businesses had to fight back, people had to fill out complicated forms to buy food; Despite all this, the common people largely locked themselves behind their leaders.
Or perhaps rather: by the harsh measures.
In Europe, public opinion figures increased for almost all national leaders. If they were from the right or left.
Right-wing nationalists like Viktor Orbán, liberals like Emmanuel Macron and socialists like Pedro Sánchez gave televised speeches to the nation with grim messages about what has been called the blockade.
People bought it heavily, saw the closure as a sign that the leaders cared for their compatriots and did everything possible to protect them. The term “public health nationalism” was coined.
Now fall is here and the pandemic is in its second wave. The infection curves are increasing considerably in many countries, while the tests are much more extensive now. And although hospitals are not as congested as last spring, many, for example in Belgium and Romania, warn that they will soon be.
Time for a new lockdown? No, today it is much more difficult for governments to take that path. After six months of falling GDP, rising government spending, and rising unemployment, many countries simply cannot afford it.
Is it time for a new blockade?
No, today it is much more difficult for governments to take that path. After six months of falling GDP, rising government spending, and rising unemployment, many countries simply cannot afford it.
This time, the toughest measures are not something that is rewarded by the voters. On the contrary.
That’s why it works most countries now with much more flexible measures. Europe is a mosaic of different rules for restaurants, schools, crowds, travel restrictions, mouth protection regulations, and tracking apps.
Opposition parties, formerly loyal to their governments, have taken the lead. In Britain, Labor leader Keir Starmer is now calling for tougher national restrictions, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson resists.
Even within countries the rules differ between regions, causing great political tensions between the center and the periphery.
Already a few weeks ago, DN described how the inhabitants of Marseilles felt unfairly treated when they were given stricter rules than the rest of France. We see the same phenomenon in Liverpool, Manchester and other areas in the north of England, where different variants of local blocking have now been introduced.
In Spain, a similar conflict between Madrid and the central government ended in the courts.
Coming all over Europe to close again this fall?
Maybe. Some governments appear to be approaching closure. In France, a form of curfew is now being introduced and schools have been closed, for example in the Czech Republic and Northern Ireland.
But trust that most governments will wait as long as possible with the most drastic measures. Today, the political price for it is too high.
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