San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Madrid tightens rules as resurgence grows
Many residents in Madrid will need a reason to leave their neighborhoods and will face tighter limitations on group gatherings as authorities move to try to rein in Europe’s fastestspreading second coronavirus wave.
The restrictions affect around 860,000 people, or 13% of the region’s 6.6 million residents, in areas where one of every four new virus infections are being detected.
Under new rules, parks will be closed, shops and restaurants will need to work at 50% of their capacity and residents will need to justify that they are on their way to work, study or see a doctor in order to leave the targeted areas.
The Spanish capital’s rate of transmission is more than double the national average, which already leads European contagion charts.
As yet another sign of how hospital beds are being taken up by virus patients, a line of tents have risen at the gates of a military hospital in Madrid. Spain’s Defense Ministry said that the tents were installed to triage patients and avoid overcrowded emergency wards.
CANADA
Border blocks extended
Canada is extending the agreement to keep the U.S. border closed to nonessential travel to Oct. 21 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the border status will continue to be based on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe. The restrictions were announced on March 18 and were extended each month.
Many Canadians are concerned about a reopening with the U.S. leading the world in confirmed cases and deaths.
GUATEMALA
President contracts virus
President Alejandro Giammattei said he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The announcement came as the country reopened its borders and international flights.
Guatemala had closed its airports and borders with Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador in March.
The country’s Health Ministry says travelers seeking to enter Guatemala will need to present a negative coronavirus test taken at most 72 hours before entry.
NETHERLANDS
Minister fined for violations
The Dutch justice minister will be fined 390 euros ($460) for breaches of social distancing rules at his recent wedding. Ferd Grapperhaus was married Aug. 22 in the upscale town of Bloemendaal. Photos taken of wedding guests gathered outside the showed that some were not adhering to the government’s required 1.5meter (5 foot) social distancing rules.