The coronavirus pandemic hits Europe with full force: public life came to a standstill in more and more countries at the weekend. Austria also ordered «curfews» for the whole country after Spain. France announced the gradual reduction in long-distance train, car and plane traffic. The restrictions are enforced partly rigidly, in Austria there are high fines for non-compliance.
Germany will largely close its borders to France, Austria and Switzerland from 8 a.m. on Monday morning. The German Press Agency learned this on Sunday from government circles, previously the «Bild newspaper» had reported this.
According to reports, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bavaria’s Prime Minister and CSU chief Markus Söder, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, Baden-Württemberg Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann, Saarland’s Prime Minister Tobias Hans and Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer have agreed on this. Accordingly, there should be both stricter controls and rejections. According to dpa information, the goods traffic between Germany and the neighboring countries should remain secured. According to the plans, cross-border commuters are also likely to continue to happen.
Curfew in Spain
The government in Madrid went the furthest: it declared a 14-day emergency on Saturday and almost completely quarantined the country. Citizens can only leave the house to go to work or to run essential errands, as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose wife Begoña Gómez tested positive for the virus, said. All unnecessary shops and entertainment venues are closed. The schools had already been closed.
In Spain, the death toll skyrocketed: within 24 hours it increased by around 100 to 288, as the authorities said on Sunday afternoon. There were more than 7,750 cases of infection nationwide. After Italy, Spain, France and Germany are most affected in Europe.
Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that there are only three reasons to leave the house: work that cannot be postponed for work, the purchase of food and the need to help other people. According to the legislative package passed by the National Council, walks are only allowed on their own or with people who live in the same household.
Groups of more than five people are prohibited
Events are now completely prohibited, groups of more than five people are not allowed. Sports fields, playgrounds and “other public places of encounter” are closed. Failure to comply with a ban on space may result in fines of up to 3,600 euros.
In France, all restaurants, bars, cafes, discos and cinemas are closed. Most shops have also been closed, with exceptions for grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, petrol stations and kiosks.
As of Monday, all schools, universities and daycare centers are closed. In the coming days, long-distance traffic by train, bus and car will be “gradually reduced”, as Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne announced.
France was one of the last European countries to end skiing. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe called on the French to be “more disciplined” given the risk of infection. The local elections on Sunday took place despite the crisis.
Around 6000 deaths worldwide
According to Johns Hopkins University in the United States, more than 156,000 infections and more than 5800 deaths have been counted worldwide. In Germany, the number of deaths on Sunday rose to ten, and the number of known infections was 4,585 cases on Sunday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University. Italy had more than 21,000 infections and more than 1,400 deaths.
Berlin also took drastic measures. With immediate effect, the city banned all events with more than 50 participants on Saturday. Clubs, pubs, sports and cultural venues were closed. There are exceptions for restaurants if there is a distance of 1.50 meters between the tables. Visits to relatives in clinics and nursing homes were significantly restricted. Schools and daycare centers will – as in other federal states – be closed from next week anyway.
British health minister Matt Hancock announced that the government in London would enact emergency laws on Tuesday, including a ban on mass meetings. The minister confirmed to Sky News that the government plans to isolate people over 70 for up to four months.
More and more countries in Europe also closed their borders or stopped air traffic. Germany tightened controls at the French border. Denmark and Poland closed their borders. The Czech Republic imposed a complete travel agent that will apply from Monday. Austria stopped rail traffic to Italy and almost completely closed its borders to the neighboring country. Heiligenblut in Carinthia was quarantined on Saturday.
(aru / sda)
Created: 03/15/2020, 04:59 PM
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