Murtaza Jaffer
Press TV, london
As cases of coronavirus begin to climb, authorities now fear of a second wave across the European continent. With localized lockdowns coming into play, fears of wide ranging restrictions are becoming all too real.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 30 million, while the death toll is fast approaching 1 million, this according to the latest data from the World Health Organization.
The United States, India and Brazil remain the most affected countries, however Europe is seeing infections rise once again with weekly cases exceeding the rate when the pandemic first peaked in Europe.
According to the WHO, Europe’s weekly tally of patients admitted into hospitals exceeded 300,000. While the majority of those infected are younger individuals who recover from the illness, the death toll is slowly rising.
Timing is vital, the UK came under significant criticism for acting too late and opening too early. Now the country is struggling to keep their pledge on testing. A growing number of people with symptoms are unable to get the tests they need. Millions are now facing localized lockdowns with talk of a national lockdown as a last resort.
Efforts to reopen economies were vital to save jobs and livelihoods with authorities aiming to strike a balance and live with the virus but that strategy doesn't seem to have worked.
As the climate in the northern hemisphere changes, fears of a second wave are ever increasing. The question now is whether government’s have learned the lessons from the onset of the pandemic.