Europe quickens reopening; Iran reopens mosques
BRUSSELS: Europe’s re-opening gathered pace yesterday after weeks of coronavirus lockdown, while America’s top infectious diseases official warned of uncontrollable new outbreaks if the process happens too quickly in the US. Austria announced its border with Germany would be unlocked following a two-month shutdown and Britons were allowed unlimited outdoor exercise, despite a global death toll closing in on 300,000.
In spite of their fears over the coronavirus, hundreds of pious Iranians took advantage of the temporary opening of mosques yesterday to pray at one of the holiest times of year. The mask-clad faithful for the most part adhered to social distancing guidelines as they sat in designated areas of Reihanat Al-Hussein mosque, in west Tehran.
Clutching their own prayer mats and Holy Qurans, they showed up with their families, including a couple with a baby, and appeared to be in high spirits. Worshippers spilled out into grounds outside the mosque were disinfected by a sanitary worker in a hazmat suit who sprayed them as he walked among them. But some of the gaps between those seated at the back appeared to be too close for comfort, and the Basij militia were on hand to ensure they kept apart.
Curbs that have confined billions to their homes continued easing but the death toll spiked in some of the world’s most populated countries, with Brazil, Russia and the US all reporting bad news. It came as US government expert Anthony Fauci issued a stark warning to Congress about the dangers of resuming normal life too soon, saying a run of 14 days with falling cases was a vital first step.
“If a community or a state or region doesn’t go by those guidelines and reopens... the consequences could be really serious,” he said Tuesday. “There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control.” Fauci said the true number killed by the epidemic in the US is likely greater than the official toll of over 82,000 – the world’s highest. On Tuesday the US registered 1,894 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, a steep rise after daily tolls fell below 1,000 on Sunday and Monday.
Fauci’s cautionary message stands at odds with rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has pressed for rapid steps to rekindle the devastated US economy before a November election. Trump has sought to shift focus onto the role played by China, where the virus first emerged in December. Republican allies in the Senate on Tuesday proposed legislation that would empower the president to impose sanctions on Beijing if it does not give a “full accounting” for the outbreak.
“The Chinese Communist Party must be held accountable for the detrimental role they played in this pandemic,” said Senator Jim Inhofe. “Their outright deception of the origin and spread of the virus cost the world valuable time and lives as it began to spread.” In the House of Representatives meanwhile, Democrats unveiled a $3 trillion virus response package, the largest yet, to fund efforts to fight the pandemic and provide emergency payments to millions of American households.
The lifting of lockdowns across Europe has gathered pace this week, with France beginning to reopen primary schools and nurseries. Teachers wore face masks and desks were separated as children filed back into classrooms. Russia began easing lockdown rules even as infections surged past 232,000 – now the second most cases in the world after the US. The nation hit the landmark on Tuesday after a week of reporting more than 10,000 daily cases. President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has also tested positive for the virus.
For those braving public transport in Moscow, masks and gloves were a must in line with new antivirus rules. “It’s protection, I hope it will work,” said 48-year-old Natalia Goronok, travelling on the metro. “It is scary that cases are going up, but people do need to live.” — AFP