The measures are drastic but are mandatory to combat the spread of the new coronavirus. The guarantee was given by the Spanish Government. The president of the executive, Pedro Sánchez, announced this Saturday the new rules that include the prohibition to all citizens to walk in the street, unless it is to go to work, to buy food or to the pharmacy.
The measures were announced by Pedro Sánchez after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, within the framework of the state of alert. Sanchez called on all national and regional political forces to put differences aside at this time of crisis. The priority is citizens. The head of the Spanish Government also assured that the executive will not “shake his hand in the fight against the virus”.
In Spain there are more than 5,700 cases of infection and close to 200 deaths. In several Spanish cities, citizens showed up at windows and balconies at 10 pm local time (one more hour than in Lisbon) to applaud health professionals who are at the forefront of fighting the coronavirus outbreak in the country. A tribute gesture summoned on social networks.
“Non-essential” establishments closed in France
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe ordered the closure of all establishments open to the “non-essential” public as of midnight today, in the face of the increase in those infected in the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The first measures taken to limit the number of people gathered were not implemented in a perfect way”, which led to “an acceleration in the spread of the virus and, in some territories, an increase in the number of people undergoing resuscitation,” said Édouard Philippe.
For his part, the Director-General of Health, Jérôme Salomon, indicated that the country has moved to Phase 3 (of 3) to combat the accelerated spread of the epidemic, which means that the virus is now circulating throughout the territory.
As of Sunday, food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, banks, tobacconists and kiosks can only be opened in the country, the prime minister said at a press conference, where he announced the closure of bars, restaurants, clubs, cinemas and others non-essential stores.
Public transport will continue to be available, but the official called on citizens to limit travel, especially inter-municipal travel.
In parallel, the country will hold municipal elections on Sunday, after experts have not advised its suspension.
“They confirmed to us that [as eleições] they can be maintained in strict respect for the rules of detachment and with priority for the elderly and frail, “said the head of government, convinced that the French will reveal” calm and civility “.
In the past 72 hours, France has doubled the number of people affected, which now stands at 4,500, according to official figures. The data also indicate 91 deaths, 12 more than the previous day, and 300 critically ill patients.
“We should all show more discipline together,” said the head of government.
Portugal has entered “a phase of exponential growth of the epidemic”
In Portugal, the Government decreed this Saturday that the bars will have to close their doors from 21:00, every day, as a way of trying to contain the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. A decision that has immediate effects and will remain in effect until April 9th.
The Minister of Health of Portugal, Marta Temido, said this Saturday that the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic is dependent on the response of citizens and called for the adoption of responsible behaviors that will help to combat the transmission of the disease.
“We know we are on the downward curve, but we don’t know how long this movement is going to last. We know that this behavior of the curve depends on the adherence of each one of us to the appropriate behaviors ”, the official said to the journalists.
In a joint press conference with the General Director of Health, Graça Freitas, and with the president of Infarmed, Rui Ivo, the Minister of Health admitted that “the next weeks are going to be tough” and has repeatedly called for the adoption of responsible behavior.
“The speed with which the curve goes up depends a lot on us. It can rise more slowly if we behave properly. And this is important because it allows the health system to react more calmly to what is the need for care ”, he argued.
In the same vein, the Director General of Health said that “the elderly are the most vulnerable population” and asked young people to be more understandable with the situation, which “requires sacrifices from everyone”.
“We are not imposing mandatory isolation, but there is a minimum of consideration. If a young person becomes ill he may not die, but he may cause death to his grandfather, his grandmother, his great-uncle or great-aunt, warned Graça Freitas.
On the other hand, the Minister of Health also asked all health professionals to fill in all the data that are part of the National Epidemiological Surveillance Support System (SINAVE)
SINAVE is a public health surveillance system that identifies risk situations, collects, updates, analyzes and disseminates data on communicable diseases and other public health risks, as well as preparing contingency plans in the event of emergency situations or as serious as well as public calamity.
“This is an important weapon to fight the disease because it allows to study it better, to know it better and to anticipate more correctly what awaits us”, he explained.
– .
