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world news Diaranson 14 october 2020

More masks, less play: Europe tightens rules as virus surges

(AP) — Governments how severe the outbreak is in with more than six people
across Europe are ratchet- certain areas. who don’t live together are
ing up restrictions to try also discouraged.
to beat back a resurgence Those moves reflect a new “Our objective is clear: We
of the coronavirus that has approach to containing the must prevent our country
sent new confirmed infec- virus among governments from plunging back into
tions on the continent to wary of hurting already frag- a generalized lockdown,"
their highest weekly level ile economies. Officials are Conte said. Italy reported
since the start of the pan- eager to avoid the total lock- more than 5,900 people test-
demic. downs they imposed in the ed positive over the past day
spring that resulted in heavy and 41 people died, bringing
The World Health Organiza- job losses. Instead, they are the country's official COV-
tion said Tuesday there were relying on a patchwork of re- ID-19 death toll to more than
more than 700,000 new CO- gional or targeted restrictions 36,200, the second-highest in
VID-19 cases reported in Eu- that have sometimes caused Europe after Britain.
rope last week, a jump of 34% confusion and frustration by
from the previous week. Brit- those affected. The outbreak has spread social distancing and wear "The prime minister has to
ain, France, Russia and Spain The U.N. health agency ap- to the annual Giro d’Italia, masks as he himself went balance protecting people’s
accounted for more than half peared to support the new ap- which was thrown into chaos into quarantine following lives and the NHS (National
of the new infections. The proach, with WHO spokes- after several top riders with- contact with someone who Health Service) from the vi-
increasing caseload is partly man Tarik Jasarevic saying drew from the cycling race later tested positive for CO- rus while also prioritizing
the result of more testing, but lockdowns should be a “last following positive tests for VID-19. He said in a video things that matter to us as a
the U.N. health agency not- resort.” the coronavirus. message that his government society, like education and
ed that deaths were also up German Chancellor An- Italy made masks manda- was working as usual and that keeping as many people in
16% last week from the week gela Merkel told a European tory outdoors last week, a re- he had no symptoms. employment as possible,”
before. Doctors are warning Union advisory body Tues- quirement already in place in Communities Secretary
that while many of the new day that she is watching the Spain, Turkey, India and a few Poland, a nation of about Robert Jenrick told the BBC.
cases are in younger people, rising infection figures “with other Asian countries. Else- 38 million, has seen a sharp
who tend to have milder great concern.” where in Europe, such man- spike in newly recorded in- Britain’s number of newly
symptoms, the virus could “We must not squander now dates are in effect in many fections, with close to 5,100 confirmed COVID-19 cases
again start spreading widely what we achieved through re- places in Poland and hot spot cases and 63 deaths reported has more than tripled in the
among older people, result- strictions in recent months,” cities like Paris and Brussels, Tuesday. Over the summer, last three weeks, with infec-
ing in more serious illnesses. Merkel said in a video ad- and are being introduced in new daily cases were around tion rates rising across all age
dress. several German cities. 600. groups and regions.
Italy and France are restrict- Some doctors are warning In an effort to keep people
ing parties and putting limits “None of us found it easy to In France, which has seen a that Poland's chronically un- and goods moving through-
on restaurants and bars. The impose those restrictions,” rapid increase in infections, derfunded health care system out the European Union,
Netherlands went further she added. “Many people Paris, Marseille and seven may collapse if the current member countries approved
and ordered the closing of all lost their lives, and so it is other large cities have been rate of new cases continues. a color-coded system Tues-
bars and restaurants, And to all the more important that placed under maximum In Britain, which has suffered day.
discourage partying at home, we ensure now that a further alert, resulting in the clos- the deadliest outbreak in Eu-
it banned the sale of alcohol lockdown won’t be necessary, ing of bars, gyms and swim- rope, with a toll of more than The countries agreed to not
after 8 p.m. that our health system isn’t ming pools. Public parties are 43,000, officials defended restrict people traveling be-
The Czech Republic is clos- overstrained again.” banned, and restaurants have their new system as striking tween green areas — where
ing all schools until Nov. 2, Italian Premier Giuseppe to maintain at least 1 meter the right balance. Under the infection numbers are low
while Latvia is ordering teen- Conte ordered bars and res- (3 feet) between tables, with plan unveiled this week, Liv- — but EU governments will
agers to switch to distance taurants to close at midnight groups of diners limited to erpool is in the highest-risk continue to set their own
learning for a week. And Brit- and banned pickup sports six people. category, and its pubs, gyms restrictions, such as quaran-
ain unveiled a three-tiered games among friends and Polish Prime Minister Ma- and betting shops have been tines or mandatory testing
system for deciding what re- parties in enclosed spaces. teusz Morawiecki urged the shut. upon arrival, for people com-
strictions to impose, based on Private gatherings at homes country’s citizens to observe ing from orange or red zones.

Germany decries Turkey's actions in eastern Mediterranean

(AP) — Germany's foreign min- Turkey. deep sense of frustration felt by Cy- Reis survey vessel for new energy ex-
ister on Tuesday criticized Turkey prus regarding these unilateral steps ploration around Kastellorizo has re-
for “unilateral steps" in the east- Germany's top diplomat also decried by Turkey, the European Union and ignited tensions over sea boundaries
ern Mediterranean that are un- Turkey's move to open the beach- Germany stand in solidary with Cy- between Greek islands, Cyprus and
dercutting efforts to de-escalate front of Famagusta's fenced-off sub- prus and Greece," Maas said through Turkey’s southern coast.
tensions with Greece and Cyprus urb of Varosha in divided Cyprus' an interpreter after talks with Cypriot
over sea boundaries and drilling breakaway Turkish Cypriot north as counterpart Nikos Christodoulides. Those tensions had flared up over
rights. a “completely unnecessary and pro- Germany holds the rotating EU pres- the summer, prompting a military
vocative step." idency and Maas warned against hasty build-up, bellicose rhetoric and fears
Heiko Maas said that it's now up Varosha remained off-limits and reactions motivated by anger, saying of a confrontation between the two
to Turkey to create the conditions in Turkish military control after its that the bloc must act in its mem- NATO members and historic re-
“without further provocations” that Greek Cypriot residents fled be- bers' best interests and that disputes gional rivals.
will allow negotiations to move for- fore advancing troops in 1974 when should only be resolved through di-
ward. Turkey invaded and sliced the island rect dialogue. Ankara says it redeployed the ship be-
Maas said any attempt by a Turkish along ethnic lines after a coup by sup- cause Greece chose to hold military
survey ship to begin prospecting for porters of union with Greece. He said European leaders have given drills in the Aegean Sea on a Turkish
hydrocarbons in disputed waters, in- Cyprus is an EU member, but only time until December for diplomacy national holiday. Greek Prime Min-
cluding an area just off the secluded its southern Greek Cypriot part — to take hold, “ but for that to happen ister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Tues-
Greek island of Kastellorizo, would seat of the internationally recognized there must be a climate of trust and day that Athens wouldn't engage in
strike a “serious blow" to efforts at government — enjoys full benefits. credibility, something that isn’t there exploratory talks with Ankara for as
easing tensions and improving ties now." long as the survey vessel remained
between the European Union and “That’s why we fully understand the Ankara's redeployment of the Oruc active in the region.