Covid Second Wave: Lockdown in France & Germany

Many countries in Europe witnessed a fresh spike in the number of Covid-19 cases before winter. With the second wave of Coronavirus infections increasing in France, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered lockdown again in their countries.

The news of Europe’s biggest economies imposing nationwide restrictions sent world stock markets diving. The restrictions imposed are as severe as the ones that drove the global economy early this year into deep recession.

“The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated,” Macron said while addressing people via television. “Like all our neighbours, we are submerged by the sudden acceleration of the virus.”

“We are all in the same position: overrun by a second wave which we know will be harder, more deadly than the first,” he said. “I have decided that we need to return to the lockdown which stopped the virus.”

Under the new lockdown measures which came into force on Friday, people were asked to stay in their homes and would be allowed only to buy essentials and medicines or exercise for an hour a day. People will be permitted to go to work if their employer finds it impossible to get the work done from home. Schools will remain open.

Of course, people leaving their homes in the country will have to carry a document justifying being outside, so that the police can check unnecessary movement. The lockdown would be observed for a month in France.

In Germany, which was less hard-hit than other countries in Europe early this year, bars, restaurants and theatres will be shut from November 2 to November 30, as part of the restrictions to be imposed to check the second wave of Covid. Schools will be open and markets will also be open but Covid-19 protocols would strictly be followed.

“We need to take action now,” Merkel said. “Our health system can still cope with this challenge today, but at this speed of infections it will reach the limits of its capacity within weeks.”

In France, the number of cases has gone beyond 36,000 new cases a day while Germany saw an exponential rise in cases. On Thursday, France reported 235 new virus deaths over the past 24 hours, and more than 47,000 new positive tests.

Spain, Russia, Poland and Bulgaria also registered a surge in Covid cases. Germany has taken in patients from its neighbour Netherlands, where hospitals have reached their limits.