Pace of Deaths Slows in Spain and Germany While Curbs Persist
Spain Reports Fewest Coronavirus Deaths Since March 23
(Bloomberg) --
Spain and Germany reported the smallest increases in deaths linked to the coronavirus in more than a week, even as the pandemic forced the leaders of Europe’s biggest economies to extend lockdowns.
Officials say the moderating daily death toll shows that the curbs, compelling millions of Europeans to stay at home, are working. At the same time, they warn that relaxing the restrictions too soon could unleash a surge in cases.
Italy, with more deaths than any other country in Europe, is extending its lockdown until May 3 and on Saturday reported the highest number of new cases in a week. Spain prolonged its restrictions through the end of April, while the U.K. is considering keeping curbs in place, and countries from Albania to Turkey intensified controls. French President Emmanuel Macron is likely to announce an extension on Monday.
“If we yield now we would risk, as our experts tell us, losing all the positive results we have achieved so far,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said at a news conference on Friday. He named Vittorio Colao, former chief executive officer of Vodafone Group Plc, to head a task force examining ways to exit the lockdown.
Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa acknowledged the progress but said the high number of infections “indicates confinement is necessary. We know it’s hard. We know it’s a sacrifice for the population. But we have to do it,” he said Saturday.
A limited number of employees in Italy, Spain and elsewhere will be permitted to return to work in the coming days as governments try to prevent mass bankruptcies and unemployment. Those workers will have to follow strict health protocols in factories and stores, maintaining social distancing and washing hands frequently. Austria, Denmark and Norway are also on course to gradually return to normal.
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to announce a task force to advise on reopening the world’s biggest economy.
Large or small, though, the pace at which countries can recover from the virus -- and the trajectory of the pandemic itself -- is far from certain.
The U.K. reported another 917 deaths Saturday, bringing the toll to almost 10,000, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson was continuing his recovery from Covid-19 after being released from intensive care on Thursday.
Italy reported 4,694 new cases, compared with 3,951 on Friday, civil protection officials said. The increase comes as screening is expanded: A record number of tests were conducted at the end of the week and about 110,000 have been performed in recent days, health officials said. Confirmed cases in the country now total 152,271.
There were 619 deaths linked to the virus in the last 24 hours, compared with 570 the day before. That brings the total number of fatalities in Italy to 19,468.
In Spain and across Europe, political and business leaders are increasingly talking about a “new normal” that will follow the lifting of lockdowns. They’re trying to prepare people for a gradual return to public life. To blunt the economic devastation, European Union finance ministers this week agreed to a 540 billion-euro ($590 billion) package of support measures.
While Europe has reported more than 65% of global coronavirus deaths, there are signs that the worst-hit countries may be nearing a peak in infections. On Saturday, Spain reported the fewest deaths since March 23, with the toll rising by 510 to 16,353. Italy announced Friday that the daily fatality count had declined to 570, and the number of new cases also fell from the previous day.
Germany reported a slowdown in the death rate on Saturday. More than two weeks after the government ordered citizens to adhere to strict limits on public life, the number of fatalities rose by 129 to 2,736, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 122,000 people are infected with the virus in Germany.
In an address to the nation, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asked people to remain patient, arguing it’s too early to relent. The country has a duty to show solidarity with other European countries to ensure they emerge strong and healthy from the current crisis, he said.
“It’s not only politicians and experts who decide how things will go on from here, when and how the restrictions can be relaxed,” according to a transcript of Steinmeier’s speech due to air Saturday evening. “We all have it in our hands, through our patience and discipline -- especially now when it is hardest for us.”
Elsewhere, cases are still increasing, prompting more restrictions. A late-night announcement from the Turkish government about a surprise weekend lockdown sent thousands of people to grocery stores across the country.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.