After lockdowns were lifted across Europe, there are now fears of a second wave as coronavirus infection rates rapidly increase.
On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a warning that Europe was on the brink of a second wave of the virus.
It will be six months on Thursday since the World Health Organisation declared a public health emergency.
“Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe; among some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic,” Mr Johnson said.
"What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we think that the risks are starting to bubble up again."
His comments came hours after Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said it had serious concerns that a second wave was under way and said it was caused by "negligence" of social-distancing rules.
German reported new case numbers up from 500 to 800 per day.
"The new developments in Germany make me very worried," said Professor Lothar Wieler of the RKI.
"The rise has to do with the fact that we have become negligent.”
With 206,000 confirmed cases and just over 9,000 deaths, Germany wanted to avoid a second wave, which would bring back lockdowns after economically crippling restrictions closed many businesses for six weeks in March and April.
Europe's biggest economy withstood the pandemic with far fewer deaths than some large neighbours such as France, owing to widespread testing, a well-equipped healthcare system and good adherence to social distancing.
However, the summer holiday season has prompted fears that tourists returning from destinations experiencing a surge in cases could sow the seeds of a second wave.
A similar picture is emerging in Spain. Germany was the latest country to warn its citizens against travelling to certain regions of Spain.
Berlin’s decision follows an impromptu announcement by the UK at the weekend that 14-day quarantine restrictions will apply to people returning from all parts of Spain after it reported a spike in cases in Catalonia, which includes Barcelona.
Last week, Spain’s new daily case numbers hit almost 1,000 – the highest since early May.
The UK Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Spain, including its southern island regions.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has described the UK’s decision as “unbalanced”.
Many Spanish areas have now reimposed rules for masks to be worn everywhere and, in several places, such as Barcelona, have called for people to stay at home.
Case statistics in Spain showed people in their 20s and 30s are a major source of new infections, as the reopening of bars and restaurants has made the transmission danger seem less urgent.
In France, Health Minister Olivier Veran this week implored youngsters to “be more vigilant”, warning that bars across France could be closed once again.
Portugal has also faced a backlash from EU nations after it was forced to impose local lockdowns on the outskirts of its capital, Lisbon, to halt a rise in new cases.
The UK has also placed travel restrictions on the country despite the Portuguese government vehemently arguing against it.
"It is a decision that is neither substantiated nor supported by the facts," Portugal's Ministry of State and Foreign Affairs has said.
Mr Johnson has defended the UK’s decision and said action could be taken against travel to other countries if cases start to rise.
"It is vital that when people are coming back from abroad, if they are coming back from a place where I'm afraid there is another outbreak, they must go into quarantine," he said.
"That's why we have taken the action that we have and we will continue, throughout the summer, to take such action where it is necessary.
"I'm afraid if we do see signs of a second wave in other countries it is really our job, our duty, to act swiftly and decisively to stop travellers coming back from those places seeding the disease here in the UK."
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that the pandemic continued to accelerate, with the number of cases worldwide doubling in the past six weeks.
“Almost 16 million cases have now been reported to WHO, and more than 640,000 deaths, and the pandemic continues to accelerate,” he said.
“In the past six weeks, the total number of cases has roughly doubled.”
Last week, the EU announced a €750 billion (Dh3.225 trillion) Covid-19 rescue fund to tackle the economic fallout of the virus.
However, the new flare-up in infections on the continent will now be a reminder of the more immediate health threat.
Estimates of the virus’s reproduction rate from Bank of America economists suggested that it has risen back to around or above 1 in countries including the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, meaning one infected person will on average spread it to more than one other person.
Worldwide, the number of coronavirus cases now stands at 16.8 million with a death toll of 663,600.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
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9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
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Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
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The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
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Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
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Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
