The second wave in Europe: Is the continent on the verge of closure? | Israel today

The Corona is hitting full force in many countries • Restrictions have been imposed on populations living in infected areas • Boris Johnson: "Adherence to guidelines will prevent closure"

The second wave of the corona plague is hitting Europe in full force.

Data from the World Health Organization show that the number of people infected with the virus last week exceeded the number of people infected across the continent at the peak of the first wave, in March.

Archive photo: Reuters

The head of Europe at the World Health Organization, Hans Kellogg, described the situation on the continent as extremely serious and expressed concern about the highest number of people infected with the virus, recorded among people aged 25 to 49. Klooga published a recommendation to avoid public events and parties.

The second wave is also hitting European countries that have not been significantly affected by the first wave including Greece and Croatia, two popular holiday destinations that are now absorbing the repercussions of tourist arrivals during the summer months.

In Poland, too, a record number of 1,000 infections per day were recorded.

In view of the dramatic increase in the number of infected across Europe, the various countries are beginning to re-impose restrictions on the population living in the most infected areas.

At present, there are no plans to re-close borders between European countries and national closures.

The countries that are now the focus of the second wave in Europe are Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Austria, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Romania and Croatia.

In Madrid and Vienna, the highest numbers of cases of new infections have been recorded in Spain and Austria in recent days.

Germany, which relative to its neighbors suffered less in the first wave, is also preparing for a significant increase in the number of people infected in the coming days.

The Czech government will discuss tomorrow (Monday) the possibility of re-declaring a state of emergency in light of the high increase in the number of infected.

The UK government announced over the weekend renewed restrictions - including a duty of self-isolation on anyone who has been tested and found to be a carrier of the virus or who has been in contact with a person infected with the virus.

The government has announced the imposition of draconian fines on anyone who improves the isolation duty from the 28th of the month: between £ 1,000 and £ 10,000 (£ 500 only on low-income earners).

Also, new restrictions on public gatherings were introduced earlier this week.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, who is facing harsh criticism of his conduct in the face of the first corona wave that has led to the highest death toll in Europe, has made it clear that he is not interested in imposing a national closure on the United Kingdom again.

"The only way to avoid that is for people to obey the instructions," Johnson clarified, adding, "We are monitoring the spread of the pandemic. As I have estimated in recent days, we will no doubt see the arrival of the second wave. We see it in France, Spain and all over Europe. It is inevitable that the second wave will reach Europe. "

Despite the warnings, violent clashes broke out on Saturday in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London between protesters opposing the imposition of Corona restrictions and police forces.

Thirty-two of the protesters were arrested for disturbing public order and assaulting emergency workers.

Two policemen were injured.

Archive photo: Reuters

In Madrid, certain restrictions were imposed on the population.

However, Spanish authorities report that although the country now has the highest number of infections in Europe, close to 75% of those diagnosed as having a corona test do not show any symptoms of the disease.

Only three percent of them are hospitalized.

The number of patients in a serious condition and the death toll is still very low.

In France, a peak was recorded during the weekend in Corona: 13,500 new patients a day.

The infection rate in France in recent days is 5.6.

Authorities in France attribute the steep rise in the government's decision to allow free rapid corona tests to the population of Paris - including saliva tests, which are considered to be less effective.

However, medical staff at testing centers across France went on strike on Thursday in protest of harsh working conditions.

Large cities in France such as Marseille and Bordeaux have already imposed renewed restrictions on their residents, such as restrictions on beach stays, conventions and assemblies, and visits to nursing homes.

More cities are expected to make similar decisions earlier this week.