Many nations ease lockdowns but Russia and UK still struggle
The global pandemic is slicing through the defenses of other countries
ROME: From the United States to Europe to Asia, the easing of some Coronavirus lockdowns brought millions out of their homes to enjoy the outdoors and warm spring temperatures. Yet the global pandemic is still slicing through the defenses of other nations, causing infections and deaths to march relentlessly higher.
The confirmed virus death toll in Britain was creeping up near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe's outbreak, even though the UK population is younger than Italy's and Britain had more time than Italy to prepare before the pandemic hit.
More than half of Russia's new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital's medical facilities will be overwhelmed.
A Russian epidemiologist, however, said the sharp increase in Coronavirus cases reflected increased testing.
Russia has reported 1,222 virus deaths among 124,000 infections, numbers that health experts widely believe undercount the true toll of its outbreak.
Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai's main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity or less to keep some social distancing in place.
Italians are counting down the hours until Monday, when parks and public gardens were re-opening nationwide for strolling, jogging or bike riding. But with sunshine and warm temperatures across the country, many were outside in force Sunday, walking down streets and chatting on sidewalks. Many had masks, but in Rome, some lowered them to talk with friends or neighbors. Despite the easing, Italians will still have to stay a meter apart, picnics are not allowed and playgrounds will remain closed. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned that if the rate of contagion starts rising again, such freedoms will be curtailed.
In Spain, many ventured out this weekend for the first time since its lockdown began on March 14.
“I feel good, but tired. You sure notice that it has been a month and I am not in shape,” runner Cristina Palomeque said in Barcelona.
In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will leave the lockdown that began March 23
Masks were worn widely around the world, from runners in Spain to beach-goers in the southern United States. New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots.