COPENHAGEN, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization’s European office said that despite some “optimistic signs” in some of the countries worst hit by the new coronavirus, the number of cases was rising and approaching one million in the continent alone.
“We remain in the eye of the storm,” WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, told a news conference, urging countries to put adequate controls in place before easing lockdown restrictions.
Hope that its spread has peaked in Europe and the United States has seen some countries take tentative steps to ease restrictions.
But with global cases and deaths still growing – and fears of a second wave of infections in previously hit countries – officials are warning that life around the world will not be returning to normal until a vaccine is available.
Positive signs in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland were overshadowed by sustained or increased levels of infections in other countries, such as Britain, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, he said. “It is imperative that we do not let down our guard.”
More than two million people have been infected with the virus around the world and 137,500 – including 90,000 in Europe – have died.
Hard-hit parts of Europe have seen a slowdown in infections and deaths in recent days, with Spain recording 551 new deaths on Thursday, almost half of the daily toll at its peak.
After weeks on strict lockdowns, Spain and Italy have begun to ease restrictions, allowing some businesses to reopen.
In Venice, residents in mandatory face masks ventured out to see quiet streets and canals that once thronged with selfie-stick wielding tourists.
“I bought many books,” Venetian Catrina said after visiting one of the city’s bookshops, which were allowed to reopen this week. “I needed them. Like an addict – for something of substance.”
Switzerland announced an easing of restrictions, with some shops and services – including beauty salons and DIY stores – allowed to resume business from April 27.
Germany also announced initial steps to reopen some shops and gradually restart schools, Denmark began reopening schools for younger children after a month-long closure and Finland lifted a blockade of Helsinki.
As European residents began to emerge from their homes, some feared it may be too soon.
“I think people should still hold out a little longer because I think it’s going to come back again, not as intensely, but the pandemic is going to come back a little bit,” deliveryman Gean Carlo Minaya said in Madrid.
In other parts of Europe, severe restrictions were set to remain in place for weeks, with Britain expected to extend its lockdown measures. It reported 861 new deaths from the virus on Thursday, a spike of 100 on the previous day’s increase. — NNN-AGENCIES
