Governments Worldwide Impose Lockdowns and Entry Bans

Governments around the world have imposed travel bans and imposed locked entire cities affecting tens of millions of people. France and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns while,  Australia ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners. While other countries extended entry bans as the world sought to contain the spreading coronavirus.

Covid-19 fears have created panic buying in Australia, the United States, Britain and even Thailand. Causing leaders to appeal for calm over the virus. A flu virus that has infected over 156,000 people globally, but has killed under 6000 people.

Several countries have also imposed bans on mass gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events. Medical experts have also urged people to practice “social distancing” to curb the spread.

Austria’s chancellor urged people to self-isolate and announced bans on gatherings of more than five people and further limits on who can enter the country.

All of Pope Francis’ Easter services next month will be held without the faithful attending, the Vatican said on Sunday, in a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times.

The services, four days of major events from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, usually draw tens of thousands of people to sites in Rome and in the Vatican.

Australia bans cruise ships

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said from midnight Sunday international travelers arriving in the country would need to isolate themselves for 14 days, and foreign cruise ships would be banned for 30 days, given a rise in imported cases. Australia’s latest restrictions mirror those announced by neighboring New Zealand on Saturday.

In China, where the epidemic began in December, appears to now face a greater threat of new infections from outside its borders. As it continues to slow the spread of the virus domestically.

China has reported 80,984 cases and 3,203 deaths more than half of the world deaths from the flu virus. The country has also imposed draconian containment policies from January. Locking down several major cities, banning tens of millions from travelling outside city borders.

Spain locksdown 47 million people

Spain put its 47 million inhabitants under partial lockdown as of Saturday. A 15-day state of emergency to combat the epidemic in Europe’s second worst-affected country after Italy.

Streets in Madrid and Barcelona were deserted on Sunday. All major newspapers carried a front-page wrapper emblazoned with a government-promoted slogan: “Together we’ll stop this virus.”

Spain has had 193 deaths from the virus and 6,250 cases so far, public broadcaster TVE said on Sunday.

People told to stay home in France

France will shut shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities from Sunday with its 67 million people were told to stay home after confirmed infections doubled in 72 hours.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the government had no other option after the public health authority said 91 people had died in France and almost 4,500 were now infected.

“We must absolutely limit our movements,” he said. However, French local elections went ahead.

“I am going to vote and keep living my life no matter what. I am not scared of the virus,” said a 60-year-old voter, who asked to be identified only as Martine, at a Paris polling station.

Britain is preparing to ban mass gatherings and could isolate people aged over 70 for up to four months as part of plans to tackle coronavirus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

Argentina banned entry to non-residents who have been to any country highly affected by coronavirus in the last 14 days. While Colombia said it would expel four Europeans for violating compulsory quarantine protocols. Just hours after closing its border with Venezuela.

Starting Sunday, South Korea began to subject visitors from; France, Germany, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands to stricter border checks. After imposing similar rules for China, Italy and Iran which have also had major outbreaks.

Visitors from those countries now need to download an app to report whether they have symptoms. South Korea has been testing hundreds of thousands of people and tracking potential carriers using cell phone and satellite technology.

Source: Reuters