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| Coronavirus in Europe, map by Peter Christener, via Creative Commons. License available here. |
EUROPE (Overview)
Reported by Lucas Henry
European Union, European Economic Area and United Kingdom
Total cases: 488,190. COVID-19 related deaths: 36,007.
Europe (EU, EEA, UK, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City)
Total Cases: 576,034. COVID-19 related deaths: 42,300.
SOURCE:
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: https://qap.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/COVID-19.html
In response to the ongoing crisis, the European Commission has created a strategic stockpile of medical equipment called the “rescEU stockpile” to help its member states to deal with the pandemic. The stockpile includes ventilators, protective masks, vaccines, laboratory supplies and other important PPE materials. The rescEU stockpile is overseen by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre and Janez Lenarčič, the Commissioner for Crisis Management, from Slovenia. The Joint Procurement Agreement, which ensures equal access and opportunity for member states to acquire needed medical equipment, is being used to increase testing procedures across the continent. This agreement covers the 27 EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
SOURCES:
WESTERN BALKANS
Report by Alejandra Pires
Albania
Total cases: 259. COVID-19 related deaths: 15
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Total cases: 464. COVID-19 related deaths: 13
Croatia
Total cases: 963. COVID-19 related deaths: 6
Kosovo
Total cases: 112. COVID-19 related deaths: 1
Montenegro
Total cases: 123. COVID-19 related deaths: 1.
Serbia
Total cases: 1060. COVID-19 related deaths: 23
North Macedonia
Total cases: 354. COVID-19 related deaths: 10
Slovenia
Total cases: 841. COVID-19 related deaths: 15
SOURCE:
According to an article published by Global Voices, the pandemic has severely and adversely affected digital rights in the Balkans. By digital rights, the article refers to issues of data privacy, surveillance, increased censorship, and restrictions on the free-flow of information. The crux of this issue pertains to adhering to necessary social distancing and quarantine practices while keeping in check various governments have that have had problematic histories when it comes to free speech and surveillance. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the digital rights organization SHARE Foundation have started a blog titled “Digital Rights in the Time of Covid-19” in order to document these developments. (Found here: https://bird.tools/mapping-digital-rights-during-coronavirus-outbreak/)
SOURCE:
In Kosovo, the pandemic has resulted in it’s ruling coalition government, led by Albin Kurti, to lose a no-confidence vote, who had been in office less than two months. Nonetheless, he is expected to remain in office as a “caretaker” until a new government can form. The no confidence vote came after a protest, in which citizens took to their balconies and banged on drums in order to protest politicians’ ongoing feud during a time of crisis. Kurti and members of a junior party in his coalition had initially clashed over the country’s trade relationship with Serbia; a dispute that eventually evolved when the coronavirus situation came to dominate politics. The no confidence vote received criticism from French and German foreign ministries, while the US ambassador noted that, “It’s important for the Assembly and all Kosovo institutions to respect the Constitution.”
Source:
BULGARIA
Reported by Margarita Kuzmanova
Total cases: 457. COVID-19 related deaths: 10. Confirmed recoveries: 25
In Bulgaria, entrance to third-country, non-EU nationals is forbidden. Specifically, non-commercial border traffic from Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia has been prohibited. Health care professionals, commercial transport, diplomats, and humanitarian workers are allowed to enter the country, however. Bulgaria has also banned entry for individuals travelling from the following Schengen-zone countries: Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
SOURCES:
CZECH REPUBLIC
Reported by Quinn O’Dowd
Total cases: 3805. COVID-19 related deaths: 44. Confirmed recoveries: 67.
The Czech government announced that the state of emergency would be prolonged until the 11th of May. Although the Czech government has moved online, there is concern that there are 800,00 households that are without internet. Of those 800,000, 622,000 are senior citizens who are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. Czech carmaker Škoda, the largest private employer in the Czech Republic, announced that it will use its 3D printer to make parts for respirators.
SOURCE:
FRANCE
Reported by Lara Morgan
Total cases: 59,105. COVID-19 related deaths: 4,503. Confirmed recoveries: 12,428.
Other statistics: 32,645 patients are currently hospitalized, 6,399 of which are in intensive care. 10,273 cases have occurred in the Paris region.
In France, the coronavirus has forced election processes to come to a halt. In 5,000 municipalities, the second round of mayoral elections has been indefinitely postponed, with uncertainty surrounding possible government reactions to this matter. There is also unrest with respect to the indefinite postponement of French high school students’ ‘baccalaureate’ exams, which are a vital aspect of the French education system.
SOURCES:
ITALY
Reported by Lara Morgan
Total cases: 115,242. COVID-19 related deaths: 83,049. Confirmed recoveries: 18,278.
Other statistics: The average age of Italians who have died from the virus is 78 years, and about 70% of these deaths have been men. Cases almost exclusively exist in the north regions of Italy.
The grave COVID-19 situation in Italy continues--government restrictions are expected to last well into the summer. Growing anxiety and panic in Italy’s northern regions, home to almost all Coronavirus cases, has south-bound trains from Milan packed with people. In an effort to create some stability in the future, the Italian government has decided that all students will automatically pass the 2019-2020 school year, and be able to move on to their next year of classes when the time comes.
SOURCES:
GERMANY
Reported by Sean Norris, Shawna Oliver, and Evelyn Lamb.
Total cases: 73,522. COVID-19 related deaths: 872. Recoveries (approx.): ~21,400
Other statistics: Out of these currently infected patients, only 6% are in serious or critical condition, with the other 94% are classified as 'mild'.
Other statistics: Out of these currently infected patients, only 6% are in serious or critical condition, with the other 94% are classified as 'mild'.
SOURCES:
All 16 federal German states have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, with the highest numbers occurring in Hamburg, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. Gatherings of more than 2 persons have been banned in all states since March 23, with restaurants and businesses closed until further notice. Widespread testing has kept fatality rates low. Germany also has a high number of intensive care beds, meaning that its hospitals have so far not been too overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients when compared to other European nations. Germany currently has one of the lowest death rates of any other European country as well, at just below 1%. Germany is also doing a great deal to support their European Union neighbors in this time of need. According to the German new network Deutsche Welle, French patients are being sent into Germany to avoid crowded hospitals that would not serve their needs as well as the German ones currently can. Deutsche Welle also reported that Germany has centralized the supply chain of “Personal Protective Gear”, which is important equipment for doctors and other healthcare professionals to fight the virus.
SOURCES:
https://www.germany.info/us-en/coronavirus/2317268
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/03/26/germany-coronavirus-covid-19-low-death-rate-pleitgen-pkg-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/03/26/germany-coronavirus-covid-19-low-death-rate-pleitgen-pkg-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn
POLAND
Reported by Pamela Binda
WHO statistics: Total cases: 2,554. COVID-19 related deaths: 45.
Polish media statistics: Total cases: 2,964. COVID-19 related deaths: 57.
SOURCES:
https://www.medonet.pl/zdrowie/zdrowie-dla-kazdego,zasieg-koronawirusa-covid-19--mapa-,artykul,43602150.html
Poland’s government has currently proposed an economic stimulus package valued at 212 billion PLN (approx. 50 billion USD). The plan supports a 14 day benefit package to aid parents with children under 8 while the government pushes back the date to resume school. The government has implemented stricter rules regarding the operational hours of non-essential businesses. Poland has already banned meetings of 2 or more people (excluding family) and minors being outside without their guardian. The tightening of these restrictions is to prevent Poland from suffering a similar fate to both Italy and Spain. The hospitals are currently equipped to be able to support 10,000 coronavirus patients however, Poland is already preparing to expand capacity.
Poland’s government has currently proposed an economic stimulus package valued at 212 billion PLN (approx. 50 billion USD). The plan supports a 14 day benefit package to aid parents with children under 8 while the government pushes back the date to resume school. The government has implemented stricter rules regarding the operational hours of non-essential businesses. Poland has already banned meetings of 2 or more people (excluding family) and minors being outside without their guardian. The tightening of these restrictions is to prevent Poland from suffering a similar fate to both Italy and Spain. The hospitals are currently equipped to be able to support 10,000 coronavirus patients however, Poland is already preparing to expand capacity.
SOURCES:
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/poland-first-proposal-support-measures-due-to-covid-19
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-03-31/poland-tightens-public-life-restrictions-against-coronavirus
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-03-31/poland-tightens-public-life-restrictions-against-coronavirus
SPAIN
Reported by Maria Arruti Iparraguirre and Ane Icardo Isasa
Total cases: 102,136. COVID-19 related deaths: 9053. Recoveries: 22,647.
Other statistics: Hospitalizations: 51,418.
SOURCES:
The past couple of days, there have been over 900 deaths each day, and Spain's total death toll has surpassed 10000 people. However, for the first time yesterday, the number of deaths did not surpass the number of deaths from the day before (950 to 932). 30513 people have recovered, and hospitalisations have been reduced to 10% this week, as opposed to 30% last week. People cannot work outside of their homes unless their job is essential. On March 13, the Government of Spain announced the state of alarm for an initial period of 15 days of quarentine beginning March 14. Last Monday, new action was taken restricting all non-essential acitivity. The Government approved a package of measures to help those economicly affected by the crisis, and has distributed 300 millions € to the Autonomous Communities to help them respond to the situation. On a brighter note, scientists Oriol Mitjà and Bonaventura Clotet are working on a treatment that will stop the spreading of the virus, and many Spanish celebrities have contributed to the project by donating money and using the hashtag #YoMeCorono. Additionaly, Spanish people are gathering in their balconies every day at 8 p.m. to collectively applaud to thank health personnell and essential workers for their services.
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