Across Europe, other countries are taking measures to avoid being overwhelmed by another wave of COVID-19 infections.
Oldham became the latest British city on Tuesday to impose local measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 following a spike in infections. The 235,000 residents of Oldham, near Manchester, are being urged not to have social visitors at their home and to keep two metres apart from others when outside. Furthermore, rules regarding visiting loved ones in care homes are not being relaxed while vulnerable people currently shielding are being asked to extend their self-isolation by a further two weeks from July 31.Belgium’s prime minister on Monday unveiled a set of drastic social distancing measures aimed at avoiding a new general lockdown amid a surge of COVID-19 infections. Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said that from next Wednesday contacts outside family circles will be limited to the same five people over the next four weeks.
Belgian residents are currently allowed to meet with 15 different people. The measures don’t apply to children under the age of 12.France and Belgium are recommending that travellers ditch plans to spend their summer vacations in Barcelona and its nearby beaches, which have seen crowds too massive to allow for social distancing.Also on Monday, the government sent a note to companies, advising them to “build a preventive stock of protective masks for ten weeks to be able to deal with a potential resurgence of the pandemic.”Spain is fighting a new outbreak of coronavirus cases, which has prompted Britain to reintroduce a 14-day quarantine for travellers arriving from Spain.
Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn announced that he would impose tests for the novel coronavirus on travellers returning from regions at risk in light of the rise in new cases.
Authorities in Greece say they are likely to extend the mandatory use of masks at churches and shopping malls, citing the worsening public adherence to the government’s pandemic safety guidelines.
People in the Austrian resort town of St. Wolfgang, near Salzburg, were urged to stay at home after 44 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.
The southern Italian region of Campania has imposed a €1,000 for anyone who does not wear a mask. On top of the new fee, businesses could be forced to close for a duration of five to 30 days.
https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/28/coronavirus-germany-and-austria-battle-local-outbreaks-as-italy-sets-1-000-face-mask-fine
