A More Frightening Autumn Crisis Than Spring... 'European Countries Helpless Against Epidemic Control'

Europe Countries Record Consecutive Daily Highs in COVID-19 Cases
Lockdown Measures Not Implemented Due to Economic Concerns
Growing Resistance to Social Distancing and Other Preventive Measures
Prolonged Crisis Increases Public Fatigue

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Although the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is raging in Europe more fiercely than the major outbreak this spring, countries are helpless. They are trying to curb the spread through social distancing without resorting to the drastic lockdown policy, but citizens are already greatly fatigued.

On the 10th (local time), France reported 22,686 new COVID-19 cases. This increase is a pattern not seen even this spring. The UK also reported 15,166 cases in one day, the Netherlands 6,499, and Belgium 5,385.

To curb the spread, France issued a 'highest level alert' and ordered all bars, gyms, and sports facilities to close. Italy and Poland also made mask-wearing mandatory in public places. The Czech Republic declared a national state of emergency. Germany, which had boasted the world's top-level quarantine capabilities, warned that the rapid increase in new cases might soon overwhelm COVID-19 testing and tracing.

Restaurant scene in Lille, a city in northern France, on the 10th (local time)
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The New York Times (NYT) observed that COVID-19 is resurging in Europe and elsewhere, prompting governments to implement containment measures, but this time the situation is different. Since the first lockdown that effectively stopped the European continent, the economy and citizens' psychological state have been severely affected, and European citizens are no longer complying obediently with government quarantine measures as they did during the first crisis.

Different patterns from this spring are being confirmed in many places. Especially in democratic countries, there are more vulnerable aspects. When citizens grow weary of government quarantine measures, the government must listen to their voices. For this reason, voices of 'pandemic fatigue' are emerging across Europe. During the crisis this spring, citizens' sacrifices were tolerated for quarantine purposes, but now, if the government takes new measures, administrative lawsuits are filed in courts. Moreover, conflicts are arising between central and local governments.

In Spain, a state of emergency was declared in the Madrid metropolitan area. However, the Madrid regional government opposed this by referring the legality of the state of emergency to the regional high court. Furthermore, the opposition party demanded that the prime minister appear before parliament to explain the measures. Despite the tightening of social distancing measures, the spread has not slowed, increasing citizens' fatigue. The opposition and citizens question the effectiveness of the government's containment measures. For example, regarding the UK's decision to close pubs early at night, the opposition demands scientific evidence on how closing pubs earlier contributes to preventing the spread.

It is also difficult to bring up lockdown measures.

Israeli protesters
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

For European countries that suffered the greatest economic damage since World War II after the lockdown measures this spring, re-lockdown is a difficult card to play. It would not only pour cold water on the economy that has just started to recover from the worst but also jeopardize employment maintained by government finances.

Moreover, there remain doubts about whether stricter quarantine measures such as lockdowns would be properly followed. Although citizens' quarantine levels, such as mask-wearing rates, have increased considerably, there are expectations that if even stricter measures are introduced, citizens will not comply as they did this spring.

Israel, which was the first country in the world to implement a re-lockdown, is witnessing daily protests despite nationwide lockdown measures. The organizers of the Israeli protests pointed out, "Citizens see this lockdown not as a health measure but as a political one," adding, "The biggest problem is the lack of public trust."

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