Outbreaks of contaminations have been observed in several countries around the world during this summer vacation period. Particularly affected, Europe is increasing prevention measures - compulsory use of a mask, containment, quarantine - in the hope of containing the Covid-19 epidemic. The virus crossed, Wednesday, August 5, the bar of 700,000 deaths in the world.

  • In France, the mask is compulsory outdoors in certain regions

Nervousness seems to gain the French government, while the scientific body which guides it judges "highly probable that a second epidemic wave is observed in the fall or in the winter". "The virus is circulating in a more active way, with an accentuated loss of distancing measures and barrier measures: the balance is fragile and we can switch at any time in a less controlled scenario as in Spain for example", warned the Scientific Council on Tuesday.

Result: the mask has become mandatory even outdoors in the busiest areas of Toulouse, Tours and Blois. It will soon be the same in Paris and in other cities.

>> To read also:  What are the cities in France where the mask is obligatory outside?

  • The obligatory mask outdoors in tourist areas of the Netherlands

Wearing a mask also became compulsory on Wednesday in Amsterdam's famous Red Light District and in Rotterdam's shopping districts. However, many passers-by were not masked, the police contenting themselves for the moment with warnings.    

“Unfortunately, it fits the culture of the city a bit,” said a resident of the Red Light District, who asked not to be identified. "Everything is possible here and nothing is ever really imposed".  

  • In Scotland, bars and pubs in the city of Aberdeen closed

In Scotland, the inhabitants of Aberdeen, in the north-east of the island, will again experience the throes of confinement, with in particular a limitation of travel to 8 kilometers from home and the closure of pubs and restaurants at 5 p.m. 

"We are at a stage in this pandemic, where extreme caution is needed […]", said Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The city of Aberdeen has recorded in recent days 54 new cases of contamination and across Scotland 64 new have been recorded in the space of 24 hours.

  • The last phase of deconfinement postponed in Ireland

Bad news for the Irish: the government has decided to postpone the last phase of its deconfinement, which includes the reopening of all pubs. Ireland has also decided to make it compulsory to wear masks in stores and malls from August 10.

  • The Belgian province of Antwerp classified at risk by Germany

Berlin on Wednesday classified the Belgian province of Antwerp, particularly affected by Covid-19, as a risk zone, implying a mandatory quarantine for all travelers who come from there, unless they present a negative test.

Belgium has been facing for several weeks an upsurge in cases of the new coronavirus, forcing the authorities to tighten measures to counter the epidemic, in particular in the province of Antwerp where a curfew was put in place at the end of July. Its inhabitants are thus encouraged to stay at home as much as possible and the authorities have advised visitors not to go there.

The mask has become compulsory again in public spaces for those over 12 years old, and in places where the physical distance of 1.5 meters cannot be guaranteed. Contact sports are also prohibited.

  • Six-week re-containment in Melbourne, Australia

"We flattened the curve for the first time, we will flatten it again," said Australian Minister of Health, Greg Hunt. Melbourne, Australia's second city, began a new six-week lockdown on Thursday, as authorities face a second wave of the epidemic. Shops were closed and streets deserted in the capital of the state of Victoria, which has a population of nearly 5 million.

Since the start of the epidemic, Australia has recorded nearly 20,000 cases of contamination and 255 deaths linked to Covid-19, figures lower than those of many other developed countries.

The state of Victoria currently has the largest number of contaminations in the country with more than 13,000 identified cases. In the past 24 hours, the region has recorded 471 new cases and eight deaths.

  • In the Philippines, a quarter of the population reconfined

More than 27 million people in Manila and four neighboring provinces, or about a quarter of the archipelago's population, were resettled on Tuesday with just 24 hours notice. The outlook is bleak for the archipelago: the official number of cases having passed the 115,000 mark this week, a figure that has quintupled since the first restrictions were relaxed in June.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who reluctantly imposed this re-containment, warned, however, that his country could not remain closed forever. "The problem is that we have no more money. I can no longer give food and money to people," he explained on Sunday evening.                 

With AFP

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