Europe Approaching Easing of Lockdown Measures... Will May Be a Turning Point for COVID-19?

Major countries including Italy and Spain ease lockdown measures in early May

In Germany, infections rise after partial easing of lockdown

May expected to be a turning point for the end of COVID-19

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] European countries will ease lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during May. This is a measure to normalize economies hit by COVID-19. However, as cases of virus spread increasing again after easing lockdown measures have been found in some countries such as Germany, May is expected to be a major turning point for COVID-19.

According to major foreign media on the 3rd, Italy, which suffered the most severe damage from COVID-19 in Europe, is entering a calming phase and will resume operations of businesses and factories from the 4th. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, "Continuing lockdown measures will cause serious damage to the national economy," adding, "This is difficult to reverse."

Italian manufacturing and construction companies will be able to resume work from the 4th, and retail businesses will be allowed to operate two weeks later. Public places such as parks will also be accessible, and small funerals with fewer than 15 people will be permitted. However, interregional movement remains prohibited. Schools are scheduled to remain closed until the new semester starts in September, so the childcare crisis is expected to continue.

Spain, which has the second highest number of COVID-19 deaths after Italy, also decided to gradually ease restrictions from May 4th. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated in a national address, "We plan to ease lockdown orders in four stages by the end of June after comprehensively reviewing regional infection rates and the status of intensive care beds."

Greece will also gradually ease restrictions from May 4th, and Portugal announced it will not extend the national state of emergency declared until May 2nd. France plans to lift movement restrictions and commercial operation limits from May 11th.

However, some point out that since Germany’s infection rate rose again after partially easing lockdown measures, May?when major European countries ease COVID-19 lockdowns?will be a critical turning point to determine whether COVID-19 ends.

Germany began resuming economic activities from April 20th by partially lifting closure measures, such as allowing small shops under 800㎡ to operate. However, Germany’s lockdown order is set to remain in place until May 3rd.

Germany’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), announced that the virus reproduction number, the 'R' value, has risen again from 0.7 to 1. The R value indicates the infectiousness, meaning how many people one infected person can transmit the virus to. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had set a goal to keep the R value below 1.

With the R value rising back to 1, there are calls to extend the COVID-19 lockdown measures. There are concerns that if the lockdown is lifted without special measures, confirmed cases will increase exponentially.

In a parliamentary speech on the 23rd, Chancellor Merkel said, "COVID-19 is not in its final stage but still in the early stages," adding, "COVID-19 is not over yet, and we will have to live with COVID-19 for a long time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.