OPENING TOO SOON LED TO NEW WAVE OF COVID CASES IN EUROPE

Health experts in the United States say what’s happening in Europe, which is suffering a wave of new infections, should serve as a warning against ignoring social distancing or dropping other safeguards too early, John Seewer and Carla K. Johnson reported for the Associated Press (AP).

“Each of these countries has had nadirs like we are having now, and each took an upward trend after they disregarded known mitigation strategies,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“They simply took their eye off the ball.” The trends are far more encouraging in the US, which has recorded about 537,000 deaths overall, more than any other country. Deaths per day in the US have plunged to an average of just under 1,300, down from a high of about 3,400 two months ago. New cases are running at about 55,000 per day on average after peaking at more than a quarter-million per day in early January.

The result has been a sharp spike in new infections and hospitalizations in several European countries over the past few weeks. Poland’s rate of new COVID-19 cases has more than doubled since February, straining its health care system and leading to a three-week nationwide lockdown announced Wednesday for shopping malls, theaters, galleries, and sports centers.

Italy closed most of its classrooms at the beginning of this week and expanded areas where restaurants and cafes can do only takeout or delivery. The country’s health experts say they’re seeing an increasing number of patients who are middle-aged and younger.

In France, officials imposed weekend lockdowns around the French Riviera in the south and the English Channel in the north, and are preparing new restrictions for the Paris region and perhaps beyond to be announced Thursday.

COVID-19 patients occupy 100% of standard intensive care hospital beds in the area surrounding the nation’s capital.

“If we don’t do anything, we’re heading toward catastrophe,” Remi Salomon, a top official in the Paris public hospital authority, told BFM television.

Serbia announced a nationwide lockdown for the rest of the week, closing all nonessential shops and businesses. The country of 7 million people reported more than 5,000 new cases on Tuesday, which is the highest number in many months.

WEEKLY FEATURE : BONNER DYTOC SHOWS THE WAY IN STOCK PLAY