While some such as China, the epicentre of the most deadly Covid 19 virus, have started to lift the lockdown measure resuming business activities but it is still too early to predict how the situation will pan out worldwide in the coming days.
With the anticipated shortage in the medical facilities and the rising cases, many countries worldwide have announced complete lockdown or mulling on the extension while some countries in Europe are considering lifting the lockdown measures with the fall in critical cases.
Here is how most countries globally are looking at lockdown to curb the spread of Covid 19 pandemic.
Europe:
Initially, China remained the epicentre of the outbreak which later shifted to Italy killing thousands of people. Italy has witnessed 17,127 deaths crumbling the health services so far, according to the John Hopkins University.
ITALY
Italy is expected to keep the lockdown enforced until April 13 and may also consider extending it depending on the situation.
SPAIN
Spain which reported the second number of highest deaths after Italy has started witnessing a fall in the number of cases with death tolls and critical cases sharply falling. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced seeking an extension of the lockdown in the Parliament. It is expected to extend the lockdown until April 26. It is going to widen the testing to asymptomatic people as well.
FRANCE
Last month, France has extended the initial 15-day lockdown order to April 15. The Prime Minister in France has hinted on the extension of the lockdown in the coming weeks.
GERMANY
While lockdown in Germany will be implemented until 19 April it aims to expand the testing to include people, asymptomatic people, as well.
Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic and Austria are on its way to do away with restrictions as the number of cases has reduced. Denmark was one of the first European nations to implement a complete lockdown on March 11 closing down closing schools, day centres, restaurants, cafes, gyms, and borders. Even as restriction would be eased in the country, there will be a ban in grouping of more than 10 people till May 10 and bigger gatherings will still not be allowed till August.
US: The US has seen a total number of 3,99,886 cases and 12, 907 deaths, according to John Hopkins University. Even though White House has announced limited gatherings up to 10 people among other rules to be followed but it is not mandatory. However, the states in the country are implanting its own strategy to handle the pandemic with most of them taking similar measures related to the lockdown. Each of the 50 states has imposed the lockdown in different ways.
For instance New York which became the hotspot in the US announced a disaster emergency on January 30. On March 16, schools were closed and on March 20 all non-essential employees were asked to stay home besides closing tattoo parlours, nail salons and barber shops. States such as New Jersey also announced bars, restaurants and cinemas to remain close and asking university to hold back in person classes. Most states have implemented a lockdown letting the healthcare and food industry workers to continue with their work. The order also banned any gatherings including weddings and parties.
On March 23, President Trump deployed National Guard, a branch of the US military to offer assistance to states like California, Washington State and New York in its fight against the outbreak.
UK: It has imposed a lockdown on March 24 as a step to curb the spread of the deadly virus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had brought police to ensure that lockdown is followed strictly amid the rise in the cases. According to the initial announcement the lockdown was expected to last for three weeks. After that, a review is expected before April 16 to decide whether to continue the lockdown further.
Japan: After a jump in covid 19 cases, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has announced a state of emergency for a month. The PM also announced a relief package of around $1 trillion to steer the third-largest economy in the world from recession due to global pandemic. Japan has reported 4, 257 cases and 93 deaths till now. Although the rise in the number is flatter as compared to global hot spots, it is going strong with its measures. Tokyo has seen the highest number of cases with more than 1,000 cases being reported so far.
China: The epicentre of the Covid 19 outbreak Wuhan in China has finally lifted a 76-day lockdown, that was imposed to contain the further spread of the virus by the Chinese administration.
As China started lifting outbound travel restrictions after almost 11 weeks of lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19, cars queued up at expressway toll gates and passengers prepared to board trains to leave Wuhan.
Most people including delivery men, office employees, doctors, and nurses were not allowed to move since the lockdown came into effect. The provincial authorities have also lifted the temporary hold it had imposed on the local transport and inter-province transport, bringing back the crowds on the streets of Wuhan, as per Global Times.
Provincial authorities in Hubei had lifted lockdown for the province except for Wuhan on March 25 in an attempt to bring normalcy to the worst-affected province in mainland China.
(With inputs from agencies)