The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Irish pubs to close among restrictions
A new round of restrictions and border closures was announced in Europe and beyond yesterday as public life and travel increasingly ground to a halt amid efforts to keep people apart and slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Spain awoke to the first day of a nationwide quarantine, while Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, said his government was limiting people’s movement nationwide.
This came shortly after the country’s Tyrol province followed Italy and Spain, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential errands and work.
Europe is now the main front line in the fight against Covid-19.
Austria has confirmed 800 infections, with Mr Kurz saying – other than for essential errands – people should go out “only alone or with the people with whom (they) live in their apartment”.
All pubs and bars in the Republic of Ireland have been ordered to close.
In a statement, the government said: “Following discussions today with the Licenced Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the government is now calling on all public houses and bars (including hotel bars) to close from this evening (Sunday 15th March) until at least 29 March.”
Estonia and Latvia confirmed they would close their borders to foreign nationals, except residents, from tomorrow.
Turkey has put aside quarantine beds for more than 10,000 people returning from pilgrimage to Islam’s holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
Italy, the worst-hit European country with more than 21,000 infections and 1,400 deaths, wound its nearly week-old lockdown still tighter.
The transport ministry banned passengers from taking ferries to the island of Sardinia, and also banned overnight train trips.
Spain joined Italy on lockdown after the government declared a two-week state of emergency.
In Barcelona, people who ventured out to buy bread at one bakery formed long lines with a metre between each person as recommended by authorities to reduce the risk of contagion.