Virus clusters emerge as world battles to prevent second wave
● Wuhan to test all 11 million residents ● Bid to salvage tourism in Europe
surfaced around the world as nations struggle to balance re opening economies and preventing a second wave of infections, with a debate erupting in Europe over the summer travel season.
Authorities in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic first began late last year, reportedly were pressing ahead yesterday to test all 11 million residents for the virus within ten days after a handful of new infections were found.
In Lebanon, authorities reinstated a nationwide lockdown for four days beginning yesterday after a spike in reported infections and complaints from officials that social distancing rules were being ignored.
Despite the risk that loosening restrictions could lead to infection spikes, European nations have been seeking to restart cross-border travel, particularly as the summer holiday season looms for countries whose economies rely on tourists flocking to their beaches, museums and historical sites. The European Union unveiled a plan to help citizens across its 27 nations salvage their summer vacations after months of coronavirus lockdown and resurrect Europe’s badly battered tourism industry. The pandemic has prompted border closures across Europe and shut down the lifeline of cheap local flights.
The EU’S executive arm, the European Commission, laid out its advice for lifting ID checks at closed borders, helping to get airlines, ferries and buses running while ensuring the safety of passengers and crew, and preparing health measures for hotels.
It is not clear whether EU nations will follow that advice, since they, not Brussels, have the final say over health and security matters.
Some European countries have sought bilateral agree newcorona virus clusters have ments with their neighbours.
Austria said its border with Germany would reopen fully on 15 June and that border checks would be reduced starting tomorrow. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Austria was aiming for similar agreements with Switzerland, Liechtenstein and its eastern neighbours “as long as the infection figures allow”.
But he said it was too early to talk about such measures with Italy, one of the world’s hardest-hit countries, with more than 220,000 infections and 30,000 deaths. “There’s no perspective for opening the border soon,” Mr Kurz said.
German foreign minister Heiko Maas said his country would lift a blanket warning against foreign travel for European destinations before other places, but did not specify when. Germany’s warning against all non-essential tourist travel abroad runs until at least 14 June.
“Freedom to travel is part of the foundation of the European project, but in times of corona, Europe must ensure more: the freedom to travel safely,” Mr Maas said.
Norway said yesterday it was opening its borders to people from other European countries who have a residence of family there. Justice minister Monica Maeland said Norway, which is not an EU member, is opening up for EU citizens, seasonal workers and people from the UK, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The tension in balancing people’s safety against the severe economic fallout is playing out across the world. Italy partially lifted lockdown restrictions last week only to see a big jump in confirmed coronavirus cases in its hardest-hit region. Pakistan reported 2,000 new infections in a single day after crowds of people crammed into local markets as restrictions were eased.
European countries have begun slowly easing their lock downs, from barber shops reopening next week in Belgium to some schools starting up again soon in Portugal. But a raft of safety rules are being put in place, including reducing the number of children in Belgian pre-school classes.