Cafes, shops and restaurants shut down across France and Spain on Sunday as governments stepped up their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which has now reportedly killed more than 6,000.
France ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses, while Spain went a step further and banned people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food. Cases also spiked in Germany and sources said that the government planned to shut its borders with France, Switzerland and Austria on Monday.
Spain and France are among the worst-hit countries in Europe although Italy, which imposed Europe’s most draconian lockdown on its 60 million citizens last week, still dominates in terms of infections from COVID-19.
Spike in Spain deaths
A spike in deaths reported in Spain from 183 on Saturday to 288 on Sunday took the global toll to 6,036 from almost 1,60,000 infections, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.
Experts warn, however, that the real figure is likely to be higher as tests are not available to everyone and people can be infected without showing symptoms.
The disease has now hit all global regions, ripping up sporting and cultural calendars, causing panic in stock markets and companies and prompting often contradictory responses from governments. As the virus continued its global spread, the plight of existing hotspots intensified. Iran announced 113 new deaths on Sunday taking its total to 724, the world’s third-worst toll after China and Italy, and officials urged people to avoid public gatherings. Britain, which had avoided crackdowns and instead tried to manage the spread and create “herd immunity”, cancelled local elections and hinted that it would follow most other affected European nations and ban mass gatherings.
Local elections
On the other hand, France allowed municipal elections to go ahead on Sunday even as officials imposed a drastic nationwide shutdown on all non-essential businesses and promised to progressively restrict long-distance travel.
Several countries have announced bans on foreigners entering their countries.
Austria banned gatherings of more than five people on Sunday, telling citizens to stay in unless absolutely necessary.
Norway announced it would shut ports and airports with international connections on Saturday before retreating a day later and saying although foreigners would be turned away, the facilities would remain open.