Virus restrictions eased in Europe
Most U.S. states still fall short of recommended testing levels, study finds
BERLIN—Several European countries where coronavirus infections have slowed moved ahead Friday with relaxing border restrictions, while the U.S. reported a record drop in retail sales that threatened stores and weighed down the sinking economy. Infection flare-ups in Mexico and elsewhere served as a reminder the pandemic is far from over.
Slovenia, which has been gradually easing strict lockdown measures, declared that the spread of the virus is now under control and that European Union residents could now enter from Austria, Italy and Hungary.
Germany opened its border with Luxembourg at midnight to increase the number of crossings open from France, Switzerland and Austria. Travellers will still need to demonstrate a “valid reason” to enter Germany, and there will be spot checks, but the goal is to restore free travel by June 15.
In the U.S., retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4 per cent from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away from stores.
The Commerce Department’s report Friday on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6 per cent.
Furthermore, an Associated Press analysis found that an overwhelming majority of U.S. states still fall short of the COVID-19 testing levels that public health experts say are necessary to safely ease lockdowns and avoid another deadly wave of outbreaks.
Rapid, widespread testing is considered essential to tracking and containing the coronavirus. But 41 of the country’s 50 states fail to test widely enough to drive their infections below a key benchmark, according to an AP analysis of metrics developed by Harvard’s Global Health Institute.
Among the states falling short are Texas and Georgia, which recently moved aggressively to reopen stores, malls, barbershops and other businesses.
In the West, Grand Canyon National Park reopened Friday to allow visitors in for day trips, but not overnight.
By 7:30 a.m., more than two dozen people were enjoying viewpoints along the South Rim.
Back in Germany, states agreed to drop a mandatory 14day quarantine for travellers entering from the EU and several other European countries, including Britain, said Armin Laschet, the governor of the western state of North RhineWestphalia.
Germany has seen more than 170,000 COVID-19 infections and nearly 8,000 deaths, but more than 150,000 people have recovered, and the country has been seeing fewer than 1,000 new cases per day.
In northern Europe, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania removed travel restrictions between the Baltic countries, which Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas called “another step toward normal life.”
Austria and Switzerland also moved ahead with easing some border restrictions, and Austria reopened all cafés and restaurants.
In Australia, many Sydney cafés and restaurants opened again as New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, granted permission for them, as well as places of worship, to reopen with up to 10 people so long as distancing rules are in place.
In Japan, some schools, restaurants and other businesses started to reopen after the country lifted its national coronavirus emergency, while keeping in place restrictions in limited urban areas, like Tokyo, where risks remain.
Ahead of Mexico’s plan to partially reopen key industries such as mining, construction and auto plants on May 18, authorities sounded a note of concern as the country reported its largest one-day rise in coronavirus case numbers. There were 2,409 new COVID-19 test confirmations Thursday, the first time that number has exceeded 2,000 in one day.