Europe in the grips of Covid-19 with no end in sight
Bianca Rahimi
Press TV, London
Globally nearly half a million people have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 21,000 people have died. This makes COVID-19 the most dangerous pandemic in living memory. After China, where the outbreak started, several countries in Europe are among the top ten most infected in the world. So how are they faring?
Italy, the country that provided an avenue of infection to the rest of Europe, has reported more than double China’s Covid-19 deaths –in excess of 7500. Now for the 4th consecutive day, Italy is reporting a drop in cases and deaths but the nationwide lockdown is still in place.
In Spain more than 4000 people have died with deaths running into the hundreds in just one day. Both countries are hoping this past week was the peak of the epidemic for them.
Meanwhile France, where more than 1300 have died, is struggling to enforce a lockdown. The government is threatening hefty fines and 6 months in jail to get people to stay home. Germany however has opted for strict social-distancing measures instead of a lockdown. In relation to the number of infections, Germany’s death toll is very small. Just over 220.
Berlin says it has been monitoring the situation closely since January and has been stocking up on test kits and respirators. It's so prepared Germany has even had the capacity to take in a number of critically ill Italians.
Meanwhile in the UK more than 460 people have died. The countries National Health Service is already feeling the strain and in a matter of days the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tone has gone from reassuring to foreboding. The country is now under lockdown and according to the NHS it’s two weeks away from another massive spike in cases.
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