Second wave of COVID-19 puts France and Germany under lockdown

NEW DELHI: Governments in Europe are busy bracing themselves as the second wave of coronavirus hits European countries. The European region accounted for more than 1.3 million new cases, amounting to the highest proportion of new cases from among the worldwide total in the second consecutive week. According to the World Health Organisation, hospitalization and ICU occupancy have increased notably due to fast-rising tide of COVID-19 cases in the continent.

France set a new record of 52,010 COVID-19 positive cases on October 25. Dr Eric Cumus, Head, Infections of Tropical Diseases Department, Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, Paris, said that the country has lost control of the virus. Professor Jean-François Delfraissy estimated that France may be experiencing 100,000 new COVID-19 cases per day soon. France became the country with the fifth-highest number of cases in the world due to the recent rise in cases.

In light of major spike in cases, Emmanuel Macaron, French President, announced a new coronavirus lockdown starting October 29, until December 1. “The virus is spreading across France at a speed that even the most pessimistic did not predict,” Macaron added in his television address to the nation. Universities will be closed, but factories and farms will be allowed to operate to limit the economic damage. People will be required to stay at home except to obtain essential goods or in need of medical attention. Employees will be allowed to go to the office only when their job makes it impossible to work from home. The President stressed, “We need everyone’s sense of responsibility. Stay at home as much as possible.”

Mentioning the growing serious situation in Germany, Angela Merkel, Prime Minister of the country, announced an emergency month-long lockdown in the nation after it witnessed a rise of 14,964 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, October 27, taking the total number to 464,239. The lockdown will be effective from November 2 to limit the impact of the second wave of the novel coronavirus in the nation. Concerts will be cancelled and public gatherings will be limited to 10 people. Places like restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas and pools will remain shut. Merkel added that the country needs immediate action otherwise the health system will reach the limit of its capacity within weeks.