Macron rules out new widespread shutdown to curb Covid-19 cases 

Picture: John Thys, Pool Photo via AP

French President Emmanuel Macron ruled out bringing the nation to a halt and Spain’s government appeared rudderless as Europe struggles with a resurgence of the coronavirus that threatens its tentative recovery.

France this week reported the largest daily increase in three months, while Spain, which has re-emerged as an epicentre of the pandemic on the continent, recorded the most since late April. 

German infections increased by more than 1,000 for a third straight day. 

Europe’s economies were decimated by the crisis in the second quarter and governments are desperate to foster a swift recovery without triggering a broad new wave of the disease. 

The uptick in cases in recent weeks has been blamed on social gatherings and travelers, but officials are reluctant to resort to the strict lockdowns imposed during the initial peak of the pandemic in March and April.

“We cannot shut down the country, because the collateral damage of confinement is considerable,” President Macron, who hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks, said in an interview with Paris Match magazine.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, meanwhile, is on vacation with his family and hasn’t come out to address the public even as bad news piles up.

Governments across Europe are tightening restrictions to combat the spread. 

In France, masks must now be worn in busy outdoor areas of Paris and Marseilles. 

Toulouse will require general mask-wearing starting on Friday, the first large French city to do so.

The country’s response must be to “speed up vaccines, guarantee their access, and provide the best health response given what we know”, President Macron told Paris Match, adding that, if necessary, authorities should resort to local “targeted” lockdowns. 

Testing, tracing, isolating the infected, and broadening the wearing of masks when necessary are also key, he said.

With Spain’s tourism industry reeling and the economy on its knees, some voters are on edge and any perceived political indifference could hurt the weak minority government that relies on separatists to stay in power.

Prime Minister Sanchez’s handling of the pandemic has been widely panned, while Italy, which served as a model for Spain in being the first to head into lockdown, appears to have a better handle on the crisis. 

Both countries are in deep recessions and had to try to balance the need to keep people safe with the desire to try and capitalise on a lucrative summer season.

Italy has also seen a pick up in new cases, albeit more contained than elsewhere. 

The government has closed nightclubs, banned dancing in public venues, and made face masks compulsory from 6pm to 6am in all places, including streets and squares, where crowds can gather. 

Bloomberg