More European countries are opening up select business operations as part of the efforts to reopen the economy while also ensuring that social distancing measures are not lifted too early amid a resurgence in new COVID-19 infections in some Asian nations.
Italy to Reopen Bars and Restaurants
Aside from restaurants and bars, beauty parlors, barber shops, and hairdressing shops will be allowed to open starting Monday next week, The Local Italy reported.
Regional governments made the calls for gradual reopening of the said business operations and the Italian government finally agreed as part of the process in hastening phase two of the lockdown easing in the country.
Originally, the said business segments were supposed to open at least June 1 but governors came up with a joint warning to the government, stating that they would be forced to "act autonomously" if they do not get the green light in reopening the said operations.
As of Monday, Italy has registered a total of 219,070 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 30,560 deaths. It is the third hardest-hit country in Europe.
Spain Tightens Restrictions on Foreign Arrivals
Spain on Monday announced that starting May 15, foreign arrivals will be required to self-quarantine at home or they will be given the option of booked accommodation for two weeks.
People arriving from other countries will still be allowed to step out to purchase essential goods and other necessities but they will be asked to wear masks every time they leave their homes.
Furthermore, foreign arrivals under the quarantine period will also be allowed to seek medical assistance if they feel sick or should they develop any symptoms similar or not to COVID-19.
According to the Spanish government, the mandatory quarantine for foreign arrivals will last throughout the State of Emergency period, which is set to expire on May 23. Furthermore, airlines will be required to provide passenger information to health authorities for faster contact tracing and monitoring.
Spain is the second hardest-hit country in the world. It logged a total of 224,350 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 26,621 deaths as of Monday.
UK Care Home Deaths Decline
Care homes across Wales and England are starting to see a decline in deaths linked to COVID-19, BBC reported.
There were 2,423 deaths logged in care homes in the said regions during the week ending in May, marking a decline from the week before wherein 2,800 deaths were recorded.
Furthermore, the Office for National Statistics revealed that hospital deaths have also been dropping since the second week of April, indicating that better days in the United Kingdom as long as the current social distancing and movement restriction measures are retained.
Britain is the third hardest-hit country in the world and as of Monday, it logged a total of 219,183 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 31,855 deaths from the fast-spreading disease.
Nearly 11,000 New Cases in Russia
Russia on Tuesday confirmed 10,899 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country's total infections to a devastating 232,243 cases.
According to The Moscow Times, the news came as the government confirmed that at least five people at a hospital in St. Petersburg were killed in a fire. Dozens of people were also evacuated from the scene.
Aside from local media reporting about the fire in Russia's biggest city, the Russian emergency ministry also confirmed that a number of COVID-19 cases were killed in the fire.
The fire started in the intensive care unit of the Saint George hospital but the ministry has yet to confirm the total death toll from the fire, Al Jazeera reported. Around 150 people were evacuated from the site, the ministry said.
Unnamed sources told local media agencies that overloaded ventilators caused the fire. "According to preliminary data, there was an overload and the machine ignited," a source told the Interfax news agency.
