Covid-19: Europe reopens its borders with 8 million cases worldwide
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After months of isolation within their national borders, Europeans found the possibility of traveling to their neighboring countries on Monday due to the decline of the coronavirus, which has infected more than eight million people worldwide and is experiencing a resurgence in China.
At least 8,000,202 cases of infection, among which 435,176 deaths, have been recorded in total, especially in Europe, the continent most affected with 2,417,902 cases (188,085 deaths) and in the United States, which have the highest number of cases (2,110,182 ) and deaths (116,081).
The pandemic also continues in Latin America and the Caribbean, which have passed the 80,000 death mark. Half are in Brazil, which with 43,959 deaths is the second most afflicted country. In Chile, the "constitutional state of catastrophe emergency" has been extended for three months to stop the epidemic.
Germany, Belgium, France and Greece have restored free movement with all the countries of the European Union, believing that they have dominated the progression of Covid-19. And the European Commission launched a website on Monday to guide Europeans who want to spend their holidays in other EU countries.
Athens, whose economy is mainly based on tourism, goes further and invites travelers from various regions outside the EU, such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and China.
On the island of Santorini and its postcard landscape, the population is waiting for the return of international visitors. "We are desperately waiting for them. We need them, if they don't come, how are we going to survive?" She impatiently indicates Michalis Droso, in her souvenir shop.
Spain will open its borders with all the countries of the European Union on June 21, except Portugal. Meanwhile, starting Monday, German tourists arrived in the sun from the Balearic archipelago as part of a pilot project.
In France, where the coronavirus has killed nearly 30,000 people, Health Minister Olivier Véran estimated on Monday that "most of the epidemic has been left behind." Nurseries, schools and colleges will resume full time from June 22.
Paris, the most visited city in Europe, rediscovered her face before the virus, this time with masks. Cafes and restaurants have been authorized to reopen their rooms. Tourists can go back up to the Eiffel Tower as long as it's up the stairs.
The first affected European country, Italy, which deplores more than 34,000 deaths, had reopened its borders on June 3. But two new outbreaks have been detected in recent days in Rome.
Sweden, where precautionary measures have been more flexible and the number of virus cases more numerous, is for its part the objective of more restrictive measures. At least seven EU countries have banned Swedes from entry, others have quarantined.
China, where Covid-19 first appeared in late 2019, also saw a resurgence in the number of contaminations over the weekend, focused on the giant Xinfadi market in the south of the capital.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that more than 100 new cases have been detected in Beijing since the disease resurfaced in the Chinese capital.
"Last week, China reported a new outbreak in Beijing, after more than 50 days with no case in that city. More than 100 cases have been confirmed," said WHO Director-General. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
This rebound led the authorities to decree the confinement of several residential areas, as well as to close the sports and cultural sites.
In the face of the pandemic, the Oscars have been postponed for two months, until April 25, announced Monday the Academy of Arts and Sciences of the Cinema that grants prestigious awards of Hollywood.
The US-Canada border, which has been closed to non-essential travel since March 21, was slated to reopen on June 21, but the two countries are negotiating a "possible extension" to close it, the Canadian prime minister said. , Justin Trudeau.
In the United States, health authorities on Monday withdrew authorization to use two treatments for Covid-19, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which were defended by President Donald Trump in an emergency. "It is no longer reasonable to believe that oral administration of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine is effective in the treatment of Covid-19," said scientific director of the US drug agency Denise Hinton.
In Turkey, the Minister of Health insisted on a worrying figure, that of the number of contaminations, which doubled on Monday (1,592 cases) compared to the beginning of June. She asked the Turks to "fight" the virus.
In India, where contention has been eased from the starts June, the epidemic shows no signs of reflux, and many patients die after being denied hospital treatment due to lack of beds, according to media reports. Ashwani Jain, a businessman from New Delhi, died in an ambulance with his 20-year-old daughter who went in vain to find a place in a hospital. "They don't care if they live or die," he accused. The country has recorded more than 9,000 deaths, and the bodies are piled in morgues because cemetery and crematorium staff cannot keep up with the death rate.
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