EUROPE AND CYPRUS LIVE WITH THE NIGHTMARE OF NEW LOCKDOWN

 Filenews 25 October 2020 - by Theano Thiopoulou

European states and governments are on high alert in order to avoid in any way the most drastic measure, the general lockdown of the economy. The states may have achieved a temporary victory in the spring and kept the spread of the pandemic under control, but now the situation is more dramatic and different.

Europe's economy is heading for a new recession and the government restrictions in place could delay the recovery and increase unemployment. The possibility of the collapse of public health systems is even more intense with the economic crash scenarios of Europe's economies. Citizens, exhausted by changes in their daily lives and faced with their personal financial difficulties, are more sceptical of the announcements and recommendations of their governments.

It is unfortunate to predict that support measures will not be able to prevent an increase in unemployment, which in turn will burden consumption. With inflation stuck well below target, the ECB will make its bond-buying programme more generous and likely to extend it in time. At the same time, the strength of the European banking system is being tested, for fear of a new wave of non-performing loans.

Measures in Cyprus

Cyprus is now experiencing a second wave of pandemic crisis, with the government trying at all costs to avoid a second global lockdown, which would cause thousands of business padlocks. Negative epidemiological data pose a dual threat to health, but also to the impact that the resurgence of the pandemic crisis will have on the real economy and the state's coffers. Measures were announced on Thursday, which will be in force until 9 November and cover all provinces. Gatherings in homes and public places, outside the dining areas, with a maximum of 10 people. Presence of 75 people indoors in the dining centers and 150 outdoors, maximum number of dining centers per reservation 6 people, sports are allowed without the presence of spectators, the operation of cinemas and theatres with 50% occupancy, cocktail parties and receptions are prohibited at weddings and baptisms, only lunch with a maximum number of 350 people is allowed. Food businesses and pharmacies can serve up to 9:00 people over 60 and disabled. It was also decided to use a mask in all open spaces, with the exception of sports people. Additional measures apply in Limassol and Paphos. Restaurants in Paphos and Limassol will be closed at 10.30, citizens are prohibited from travelling after 11 p.m., with the exception of travel for medical or work purposes, by presenting a certificate or evidence. In addition, all afternoon sports, social and other activities of children under 18 years of age are suspended.

What's going on elsewhere

Ireland is the first European country to implement full lockdown at this stage of the pandemic. Ireland's entire population since midnight on Wednesday has been re-restricted to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. The new measures provide for the closure of unnecessary retail outlets, the restriction of the operation of restaurants and pubs to takeaways, with citizens not allowed to travel more than five kilometres from their residence.

In the UK around six million people are facing tighter lockdowns, as after Wales, where a two-week lockdown was announced, restrictions exist in London, Manchester and Essex. Since last week, people from different families have been banned from gathering indoors. At the same time, a strong recommendation was made to avoid the use of public transport. Liverpool is the only area where emergency measures have already been put in place, with pub closures and a ban on gathering people from different families indoors or outdoors.

In Wales, the devolved government announced that a 17-day "fire fight" would be imposed on the country - until 9 November - with a reintroduction of the severe spring restraining order. Measures include the closure of all catering establishments and all shops selling unnecessary items and services, work from home where possible, with the exception of workers in critical occupations, a ban on meetings of non-cohabiting persons, either indoors or openly, normal operation of primary schools after the planned holidays in the last week of October but an extension of the holidays for secondary education , except for the corresponding first and second graders. Places of worship will also be closed, except in cases of weddings and funerals, libraries, community centres and recycling centres.

In Belgium, cafes and restaurants have been closed since 19 October, a measure that will take effect for at least a month, a dramatic decision for the catering sector, which the government justified because of the rapid increase in the number of cases of coronavirus. When the decision was taken to close the cafes and restaurants, to which the curfew was added from midnight until 05:00 in the morning, the shopkeepers denounced their "disaster". Universities have decided to limit to 20% the maximum number of students who can be present in institutions. Schools remain open two weeks before the holidays starting on 31 October, but it has already been decided to extended them by two days, until 11 November, in the French-speaking region of Belgium.

In the Czech Republic, with the total number of cases of the new crown having almost doubled in October, the government decided to put Prague in lockdown for three weeks. Bars, restaurants and clubs are closed across the country until November 3rd, and most schools apply distance teaching. At the same time, alcohol consumption was banned in public places, while the use of the protective mask is also mandatory at public transport stops.

In Germany, in cities and counties where the limit of 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants has been exceeded within 7 days, restaurants and bars must be closed at 11 p.m. In addition, the number of people at gatherings in private and public places is limited to ten people. If these measures are not sufficient, then the number at public gatherings will be limited to five people. Stricter rules on mask use will come into force once new cases exceed 35 people per 100,000 inhabitants within 7 days. The use of a mask is made compulsory in places where the social distance cannot be respected.

In Poland, the Prime Minister asked citizens to stay in their homes and work remotely, announcing a series of measures aimed at stoping the rise in crown cases. "Today, we must return to the basic recommendation we have known since spring: to stay at home," Prime Minister Mateusz Moravietsky said during a conference call, recommending "to those who can work from a distance."

Asia's success story

As the crown continues its expansion around the world, forcing the US and European countries to take increasingly stringent measures, such as closing bars and restaurants, banning traffic at night or imposing a maximum limit on people at gatherings, these measures are a memory for some Asian countries. Asian governments have also managed to prevent the spread of the virus by implementing strict citizen surveillance policies. In South Korea, for example, experts sift through smartphone data, credit card records and CCTV footage to track the close contacts of infected people, while citizens scan a QR code before entering nightclubs, bars or cinemas to make it easier to locate if needed.

How southerners cope with the second phase

In France, starting on Saturday 17 October and for at least the next four weeks, traffic is prohibited during the night hours, namely from 21.00 local time to 06.00 the following day. This measure will apply to the city of Paris and its region, as well as Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble, Montpellier, Saint-Etienne, Rouen and Toulouse. Violators will be fined €135. French President Emmanuel Macron, referring to family gatherings, stressed that from now on there should be no more than 6 people at the family table. Families with more members are excluded, of course.

Stricter measures are being imposed in Portugal in an attempt to limit the rate of spread of the virus. Gatherings are limited to 5 people. A maximum of 50 people will be able to attend weddings and baptisms, while university parties are prohibited. Fines for companies that do not comply with the regulations are doubled from €5,000 previously in force to €10,000.

In Spain, and in Catalonia in particular, bars and restaurants have been closing since last Thursday and for the next 15 days. The announcement of this drastic measure comes after the partial exclusion of Madrid and other restrictions imposed on the regions of Andalusia, Navarre and Galicia in order to cope with the increase in infections in Spain. In addition, in lockdown is the city of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile & Leon, after the sharp increase in cases. It is the third city in the administrative region to enter lockdown status after Leon and Palencia. In addition, throughout the community, meetings are limited to six people in private areas, while consumption in bars and restaurants and smoking outside restaurants is prohibited.

In Italy, the Conde government also adopted tougher measures to stem the spread of COVID-19. For the next 30 days, parties and celebrations are prohibited in open and enclosed spaces. In terms of focus, cafes and restaurants will close at midnight and after nine o'clock not to give alcohol to customers who don't consume it sitting at tables. At the same time, the Government of Rome recommends that citizens do not invite more than six people to their homes for dinner or drink. It is also very likely that state and private companies will be asked to increase teleworking by including up to 70% of their employees. In addition, football and basketball matches between friends are prohibited because the minimum safety distance cannot be respected. Finally, the use of the mask is mandatory in all public and private areas, with the exception of the house.

More relaxed Moscow

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were signs that authorities are bringing the crown virus epidemic under control, and added that he did not believe there was a need to impose stricter restrictions. According to Sobyanin, the measures already in place, such as the recommendation to the elderly to stay in their homes, the promotion of teleworking and teleeducation for part of the pupils, pay off and protect a large part of the Muscovites from the crown. On his blog, the mayor of Moscow even commented that he considers "completely unacceptable" very strict restrictive measures, such as "the imposition of a curfew, the total ban on travel to the city, the ban on entry and exit from the city and the closure of almost all businesses". The best strategy for Sobyanin would be "to find an average between the closure of the city and the complete rejection of the restrictive measures. We should not affect important sectors of the economy and deprive citizens of their jobs, but at the same time we should find ways to break the chain of coronavirus infections." At the same time, Sobyanin argued that vaccination against the crown in Moscow would begin "in December or January".

Two new measures in Greece

Two new measures to halt the outbreak of the pandemic announced by Greece. The mask is mandatory in open and enclosed areas and midnight traffic is prohibited in the areas where the greatest increase in pandemic cases is recorded, i.e. in the orange and red areas of the health safety and protection map. These are a total of 26 regional units in Greece. The regional unit of Kastoria is part of level 4 (increased risk), while at level 3 (increased surveillance) the regional units of Thessaloniki, Viotia, Larissa and Serres are now included. As far as Giannena is concerned, they remain at level 3 for the time being, but the situation will be re-evaluated while the regional unit of Kozani remains at level 4.