Europe Is Back to Strict Quarantine Due to Second Wave of COVID-19
The countries of Europe have declared various additional restrictions due to the second wave of COVID-19. The quarantine is forcing restaurants, bars, theaters, gyms and other establishments to close their doors again. Moreover, Spain plans to extend the lockdown until May 2021. Learn about other steps that countries are taking to stop the pandemic in this overview from Kursiv.
Germany
Starting Monday, November 2 through November 30, new quarantine measures are in force in Germany. Restaurants, bars and other gastronomic establishments allowed to sell takeout are closing. Fitness clubs, tattoo salons, swimming pools, cosmetic and massage studios, theaters, cinemas and concert halls will stop working. All Bundesliga football matches are to be held without spectators.
France
The authorities of France have introduced the self-isolation regime due to a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. The regime started on the night of October 30 and will be in effect until early December at the very least. Industrial and agricultural enterprises, construction organizations, banks and both urban and suburban transport will continue to operate; kindergartens, schools and lyceums will stay open as well, while colleges and universities will switch to distance learning.
All public catering is closing and pass control is re-established. People are allowed to have walks under an hour within the one-kilometer radius from their home. Travel between regions is banned. External borders are closed, with the exception of borders within the Schengen area. The requirement for the mandatory universal wearing of protective masks remains.
The Czech Republic
Andrej Babiš, Czech Prime Minister, advocates for extending the emergency regime beyond even November 20. The regime was established on October 5 and on Friday, October 30 it was extended by the lower chamber of parliament to November 20.
Under the lockdown rules, schools, restaurants, bars, clubs, sports and cultural venues as well as most stores are closed. Employees of public and commercial organizations are transferred to remote working. Since last Wednesday, free movement of residents from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. is prohibited. For violating the mask regime, police officers may fine citizens for up to 10,000 koruna (about 380 euro).
Poland
Poland might introduce lockdown measures similar to France and Germany. Currently, eating establishments are closed in the country, schoolkids are on distance learning and the universal mask regime is in force.
Belgium
All cultural, entertainment and sports facilities and cafes are closed in Belgium. The country is in first place in Europe by the number of cases per capita. Starting Monday, November 2, there is a curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. All cafes and restaurants are closed for four weeks; stores are not allowed to sell alcoholic drinks after 8 p.m.
Spain
The Spanish authorities intend to prolong the quarantine until May 2021. To that end, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez must acquire parliamentary approval. From Monday, November 2, the country is on high alert for a week.
Italy
Starting November 2, the country is closing its swimming pools, gyms, theaters, cinemas and concert halls for a month. Restaurants and bars are to stop working after 6 p.m. Moreover, they can only serve sitting customers – no more than six people at a table. All street gastronomic festivals, shows and conventions are canceled. Mayors of Italian cities have the right to independently impose curfews from 9 p.m. The authorities of the country may further tighten the quarantine.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, mandatory mask wearing in all public spaces has been in force since Thursday, October 29. Night clubs are closed; restaurants are only allowed to stay open until 11 p.m. Social gatherings of more than 50 people, as well as professional athletic and cultural events with more than 15 participants have been prohibited. College students have been transferred to distance learning.
Slovenia
For thirty days, the country has entered a so-called epidemic regime that allows the authorities to reinforce the lockdown. Earlier the government admitted the possibility of closing non-food stores, imposing a curfew and restricting entry to the republic.
Most of the country is in the red zone, where public events and gatherings are banned from October 16. One may only leave their region of residence for a valid reason; leaving home without a mask is not allowed. In the orange zone, citizens may move freely and gather in groups of no more than 10. All college students and middle- and high schoolers are on distance learning.
World
According to Worldometer data on the morning of November 2, 46.8 million people have contracted COVID-19 globally, 33.7 million have recovered and 1.2 million have died from it. The top three countries by the number of cases are the United States (9.5 million), India (8.2 million) and Brazil (5.5 million).
Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, 4,489 people continue receiving treatment for the coronavirus infection, 333 children among them. While 2,420 patients are staying in hospitals, 2,069 are on outpatient treatment. Out of those, 150 people are in severe condition, 15 in very severe condition and 22 patients are on lung ventilation.
As of November 1, there were 442 new cases of COVID-19 in Kazakhstan and 114 fresh recoveries. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 112,860 registered cases in the country, with 106,514 people making a recovery.
Infection rates among children are as follows: on October 16, there were 107 new cases, on October 19 – 125, on October 20 – 125, on October 21 – 181, on October 22 – 177, on October 23 – 211, on October 26 – 246, on October 27 – 248, on October 28 – 275, on October 29 – 287, on October 30 – 313 and on November 2 – 333.
According to the decision of the interdepartmental committee for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Kazakhstan, starting October 24, shopping and entertainment centers, trade malls and roofed markets can resume working on Saturdays until 5 p.m.; starting October 26, cinemas may reopen with occupancy of no more than 30% and observing distance and mask-wearing rules.
On October 19, quarantine was reinforced in the Jambyl region; half of the regional officials were transferred to work from home. Due to an increase in infection rates, the lockdown was also intensified in the Almaty region. In the Pavlodar region, the quarantine was reinforced on October 18. Starting October 16, the Atyrau region imposed additional restrictions because of the disease. In the Akmola region, starting October 16, the quarantine was reinforced and movement of residents was restricted. On October 16, restriction measures were introduced in the North Kazakhstan region.
On October 14, by the decision of the city headquarters, additional lockdown restrictions were introduced in the capital of the country, Nur-Sultan. In Shymkent, quarantine measures were extended to October 26, but open air fairs and cinemas were allowed to operate under the condition of observing sanitary norms. The Karaganda and Kostanay regions also introduced restrictions.
