World grinds to halt as nations battle Covid-19
Over 5,800 dead as pandemic spreads
PUBLIC LIFE and travel is grinding to a halt across the globe as borders close and new quarantines come into force in attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus worldwide.
The virus has infected more than 156,000 people and killed over 5,800, as the centre of gravity in the crisis shifts towards Europe and North America.
Extraordinary emergency measures are being taken to halt the spread of the virus with Spain in quarantine, Austria curtailing movements, and Estonia and Latvia closing their borders tomorrow.
In Barcelona, those who ventured out onto quiet streets to buy bread from a bakery stand a metre apart as a police patrol car cruises past.
The state of emergency is necessary to “unify our efforts”, said mayor Ada Colau. “If we show solidarity and think about one another, we can get through this,” she said. “Other countries have, and it is in our hands to give our best answer to this huge challenge.”
The number of deaths from the coronavirus in Spain more than doubled in 24 hours this weekend, to 288 with 7,753 infections.
Half are concentrated in the capital Madrid. Restaurants, bars, shops and public transport have all been shut down, in a move which shadows Italy. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s
wife, Begoma Gomez, has tested positive for coronavirus though is said to be in good health.
“From now we enter into a new phase,” Mr Sanchez said, as all schools and universities close, along with hotels and non essential
Barcelona’s mayor Ada Colau reflects on Spain’s state of emergency. retail businesses. People are now allowed to leave home only to buy food or medicine, commute to work, or take trips to care for the young and elderly.
“We won’t hesitate in doing what we must to beat the virus. We are putting health first.”
In the USA, thousands of travellers scrambling to return home after the Trump administration imposed a ban on people entering from Europe, faced lengthy screening waits yesterday.
Videos and images, posted on social media, show packed winding lines of returning travellers waiting for medical tests.
In Italy, worst hit in Europe with 21,000 infections and 1,400 deaths, the lockdown has tightened with overnight trains cancelled.
Berlin’s social scene was brought to a sudden halt on Saturday, as bars, clubs and cinemas were ordered to close.
Yet despite an air of tension, local elections in France have continued, albeit with unprecedented measures in polling stations.
Every voter stood a metre from the next in the queue, and was told to bring their own pens.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis delivered his noon remarks and spoken blessing from inside the Apostolic Library, instead of from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the second Sunday running.
He praised people who might risk contagion to help the poor and homeless even as fears of the virus prompt ever more countries to restrict everyday life.
Think about one another, we can get through this.