Coronavirus - International stories and thoughts

EU cases spiking, shutdowns looming. At some point people are going to ahve to admit that opening indoor gathering spots bars and restaurants and churches is not a good idea if your goal is to stop the spread of the virus

Further restrictions, curfews imposed in Europe as continent fights COVID-19 surge
Governments across Europe have introduced more restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19, with a combination of nationwide and specific regional measures and curfews imposed as the continent faces its "second wave."

In total, over 7 million cases have been recorded in Europe since the start of the pandemic, according to the European Center for Disease Control, with 241,291 deaths.

After new restrictions were imposed in several countries earlier this month, Switzerland has followed Italy in imposing a nationwide mask mandate in all public spaces from Monday.
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Ireland’s government has announced that, starting Wednesday, it is returning the country to a full-scale lockdown for six weeks, reinstating restrictions close to those that were in place in the spring at the height of the first wave of the pandemic.

The new lockdown will raise restrictions from Level 3 to Level 5, banning all house visits, closing all but essential retail stores, and requiring people to stay within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius of their homes. The new guidelines represent one of the strictest national lockdowns in Europe.

 

Ireland shutting down for 6 weeks

The Latest: Ireland sets new virus restrictions for 6 weeks

LONDON — Ireland’s government is putting the country at its highest level of coronavirus restrictions for six weeks in a bid to combat a rise in infections.

Premier Micheal Martin said Monday the measures take effect at midnight Wednesday and run until Dec. 1.

People are being asked to stay at home, with exercise allowed only within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius of their home. Only essential stores can open. Restaurants and bars can provide only takeaway service. No social or family gatherings will be allowed in homes or private gardens, but schools will remain open to prioritize education.

 

Wales shutting down for 2 weeks

Wales to go into national two-week 'firebreak' Covid lockdown

The Welsh government has mounted a staunch defence of the need for a nationwide lockdown as it announced “sharp and deep” measures despite having the lowest rate of Covid-19 cases of the four UK nations. The first minister, Mark Drakeford, insisted the two-week “firebreak” – under which schools, shops, pubs and hotels will close and citizens will be told to stay at home – was needed to prevent thousands more deaths and the NHS becoming overwhelmed.

The move means England is the only part of the UK not to bring in a form of national “circuit breaker”, even though it has been advised to do so by experts on the Sage committee, by teachers’ leaders, doctors and by the Labour party.

On Monday 18,804 new lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported in the UK and 80 deaths. The number of people newly admitted to hospital rose to 988, bringing the total received treatment to 5,608 including 592 in ventilator beds. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, warned the Commons of increasing rates of the virus among older people.

But following the Welsh announcement, Boris Johnson’s spokesman defended the UK government’s approach. “We keep all of our measures under review but the prime minister has made very clear that he doesn’t want a return to something like a national lockdown and he believes that our three-tiered approach is the right way forward,” he said.

Last week it emerged that UK ministers had ignored advice from Sage for a country-wide circuit breaker to avoid “catastrophic consequences”.

 

Crickets from those that were sure that Sweden had reached herd immunity..or maybe I just have them on ignore

 

Europe locking down as covid spreads

Europe Imposes New Restrictions As COVID-19 Cases Soar

 

Norway Tightens Virus Rules to Combat Surge in New Cases

(Bloomberg) -- Norway is tightening restrictions on households and foreign workers as part of a series of rule changes aimed at stemming a resurgence in coronavirus cases across the Nordic nation, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said.

Among a series of changes expected to last until early December, the Norwegian government is further limiting the number of people from different households who can meet at home and recommending social gatherings are kept shorter and with fewer people. Quarantine rules for foreign workers are also being tightened, she said.

Norway, western Europe’s largest oil and gas producer, has seen a resurgence in new Covid-19 cases in recent weeks. From about 300 new cases a week in August, that number has jumped to about 900 so far in October. The nation has so far reported almost 18,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 279 fatalities.

The restrictions on foreign workers has led to a backlash from some labor groups, with Norsk Industri, which represents industrial employers, arguing that Norwegian businesses, and in particular the oil and gas industry, are already struggling to recruit enough skilled workers.

 

Germany, France gear up for new lockdowns as virus surges

BERLIN (AP) — Germany and France got ready to face new lockdowns Wednesday, as governments sought to stop a fast-rising tide of coronavirus cases sweeping the continent. The World Health Organization says the European region — which according to its definition includes Russia, Turkey, Israel and Central Asia — accounted for almost half of the 2.8 million new coronavirus cases reported globally last week. The U.N. health agency said virus-related deaths were also on the rise in Europe, with about a 35% spike since the previous week, and that hospitalizations and ICU occupancy due to COVID-19 were increasing.
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In France, more than half of the country’s intensive care units are already occupied by COVID-19 patients. French military and commercial planes are ferrying critically ill virus patients to other regions as hospitals fill up and French doctors have called on the government to impose a new nationwide lockdown.
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In France, more than half of the country’s intensive care units are already occupied by COVID-19 patients. French military and commercial planes are ferrying critically ill virus patients to other regions as hospitals fill up and French doctors have called on the government to impose a new nationwide lockdown.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed governors of the country’s 16 states Wednesday to quickly agree upon a partial lockdown that could include further restrictions on public gatherings and the closure of bars and restaurants.