World on a “knife edge” as coronavirus cases rise and cities close again after blockades are lifted – The Sun

THE world is “on the razor’s edge” as coronavirus cases increase and cities close again after blockades are lifted.

The dangers of easing the restrictions have been highlighted this week after Germany and Spain experienced a surge in cases as they tried to get out of quarantine, while China was forced to tighten regulations to fight a “second wave.”

⚠️ Read our coronavirus blog live for the latest news and updates

GERMANY

Germany has been slowly tapering its shutdown after doing better than its European neighbors, allowing nonessential companies to reopen a week ago.

But the country reported 1,304 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, up from 1,144 on Tuesday and 1,018 on Monday.

The country’s virus reproduction rate, known as “R,” which measures how many people the average person infects with Covid-19, has also recovered to less than one.

That means that a person with the virus infects each other, on average.

Earlier this month, the rate was 0.7.

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that if the R rate increases even slightly above 1, then the country’s health service faces an overload.

She said: “If we reach a point where each patient is infecting 1.1 people, then in October we will return to the limits of our health system in terms of intensive care beds.

“If we get to 1.2. . . then we will reach the full capacity of our health system as soon as July. “

There has also been a steady increase in the number of deaths from 117 on April 25 to 188 on April 28, and the country has already been planning a second wave of killer coronavirus.

SPAIN

In Spain, which has allowed some non-essential workers to return to work, the death toll rose by 453 on Wednesday, from 301 the previous day.

The number of new infections also shot up at 4,771, compared to 2,706 and 2,793 in the previous two days.

The figures come as the country prepares to further reduce restrictions, and hairdressers and other small businesses will begin reopening next month.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a four-phase plan on Tuesday to lift the shutdown.

Implementation will vary from province to province depending on infection and mortality rates, as well as other things such as hospital capacity.

JAPAN

An island in Japan was also affected by a second wave of coronavirus after making the decision to lift its blockade.

Hokkaido eased the restrictions on March 19, allowing businesses and schools to reopen after cases dropped to one or two a day.

But 26 days later, the island has tightened its closure after 135 new cases were reported in a week.

Dr. Kiyoshi Nagase, president of the Hokkaido Medical Association, told TIME: “Now I am sorry, we should not have lifted the first state of emergency.

“It really may not be until next year that we can safely lift these blocks.”

CHINA

Also in China, where the deadly error originated, there have been signs of a feared “second wave” after closure restrictions were eased in recent weeks.

An 11 million city was closed last week after a “silent super spreader” infected 70 people.

And China closed gyms and swimming pools in Beijing this week amid fears of a new outbreak.

These actions are feared to show that the Chinese authorities are fighting a new spike in cases.

But it is impossible to know for sure the true extent of the spread, as many question the validity of the official figures.

In other countries, however, there have been more positive signs.

HOPE?

In Austria, new cases have remained below 100 for almost two weeks since some nonessential stores reopened.

The country plans to ease more restrictions throughout May, allowing more businesses and even hotels to reopen and abandoning restrictions on non-essential movements.

And in Denmark, the number of new daily cases has stayed below 200 for almost a week, apart from an increase of 235 on April 25.

It began lifting its restrictions on April 15 by reopening schools, before allowing more shops and hair salons to reopen this week.

Norway, the Czech Republic and Poland are also seeing tentative signs of success.

LOOKING CLOSE

The UK government and others nervously watch nations where restrictions have been lifted to see if there is a dreaded “second wave”.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said yesterday at a press conference: “This issue of a second peak and the need to avoid it, is not a theoretical risk, and is not limited to the UK.

“Having relaxed restrictions in Germany over the past week, they have seen an increase in the rate of coronavirus transmission.

“And Chancellor Merkel has publicly said, and made it clear, that they may need a second closure in Germany if the infection rate continues to rise.”

“So this risk is very real.”

France is also seeking to ease its own blockade starting May 11, with the country divided into “green” and “red” zones that will have restrictions lifted at different speeds.

But the country’s prime minister, Edouard Philippe, said it was a delicate balancing act that rested “on the edge of a knife.”

He said: “We must protect the French people without paralyzing France to the point that it collapses.

“A little carefree and the epidemic takes off again. Too much prudence and the whole country doubles. “

Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff

We urge Sun readers to sign a petition asking that our NHS staff receive the George Cross.

We are supporting a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honor our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.

A No10 spokesperson said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to thank you when we have beaten this virus.” SAS hero Andy McNab added: “George’s Cross Award would demonstrate emotional appreciation.”

We are asking our readers to sign the petition below.