Europe tightens curbs on fears of second wave
SEVERAL CITIES HAVE RE-IMPOSED CURBS AS HOLIDAY SEASON SPARKS FEAR OF MORE INFECTIONS
Europe has tightened virus restrictions as fears of a second wave of infections spurred by the holiday season grew with the worldwide death toll crossing 700,000.
Greece announced a “wakeup week,” tightening restrictions after domestic infections saw over 380 new cases in August. Scotland reimposed restrictions in and around the city of Aberdeen, after a cluster of cases was identified there. Toulouse in southwest France made the wearing of face masks compulsory in the busiest streets and squares from Wednesday. Paris and other cities are expected to follow suit soon, authorities said.
South Africa announced that 24,000 of its health workers had contracted the virus, with more than a hundred of them dying from it.
Hardest-hit
Europe remains the hardest hit region for coronavirus with 211,603 fatalities, but the number of deaths is rising fast in Latin America, with 206,835 recorded.
Announcing the re-introduction of restrictions in Greece, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told Mega TV: “We are trying to awaken people with messages and daily announcements on additional measures. The virus is here, it feeds on our complacency.”
They had identified three areas of concern, he added: regular crossings by ethnic Greeks from Balkans countries, social gatherings, from clubbing youths to baptisms, and public transport.
Hospitality venues shut
The restrictions reimposed on the northeast Scottish city of Aberdeen included the closure of all indoor and outdoor hospitality venues from Wednesday evening as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon referred to what could become a “significant outbreak.” The measures will be reviewed in a week, which is when many Scottish schools will reopen.
One of Belgium’s biggest meat processing plants, Westvlees, sent 225 staff home to quarantine after a cluster of coronavirus cases was discovered.
Switzerland added mainland Spain to a quarantine list of 46 countries as well as Singapore and Romania.
In the Netherlands, maskwearing measures came into force Wednesday in Rotterdam and in some busy neighbourhoods of Amsterdam, including its famous red-light district.