Asia Sets New Restrictions While Europe Slowly Reopens
2021-05-20
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1Early in the pandemic, many Asian countries appeared to control the spread of the virus while European nations struggled with high numbers of deaths and infections.
2Not anymore.
3India on Wednesday reported more coronavirus deaths in one day than any other country at any time during the pandemic.
4The Health Ministry reported a record 4,529 deaths in the past 24 hours.
5India's confirmed deaths are 283,248.
6The numbers are almost certainly under-counted.
7The large cities of Mumbai and New Delhi have seen signs of improvement in recent days.
8But health experts fear that the virus is spreading in rural areas where health care and testing are limited.
9Across Asia, countries that had been praised earlier for effective control measures are now closing down due to rise in cases of infection.
10Taiwan, once considered a major success in battling the virus, has recorded more than 1,200 cases since last week.
11The independent island has since placed over 600,000 people in a two-week quarantine.
12The government has also ordered all schools to close across the island.
13And gatherings of more than five people indoors and more than 10 people outdoors are banned.
14In mainland China, new cases linked to international visitors have surfaced.
15And the country has set up medical stations for pandemic testing at airports and train stations.
16Vietnam closed four industrial centers in the north because of an outbreak of COVID-19.
17In the south, officials have begun carrying out mass testing of workers in that area's industrial production centers.
18Additional anti-virus measures were also ordered in an effort to prevent new outbreaks.
19In Japan, a top medical organization representing 6,000 doctors is now calling for the country to cancel this summer's Tokyo Olympics.
20A slow vaccination program, increase in virus cases, and a shortage of hospital beds led the government to extend a state of emergency in Tokyo and other parts of Japan for the third time.
21Bars, restaurants and public gathering places have been closed for months.
22The restrictions are set to end May 31.
23Malaysia announced a one-month lockdown through June 7, after an increase in cases and fear of the more infectious variants.
24The country's cases have increased by 300 percent since January, now it is at 485,000.
25Singapore has announced restrictions on public gatherings and closed restaurants.
26Schools have moved online as the spread of the virus appears to be increasing.
27Thailand also has seen the virus appear to increase, about 75 percent of Thailand's more than 116,000 cases have been recorded since the beginning of April.
28Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) on Wednesday began to welcome visitors from other parts of the world as long as they can prove they are fully-vaccinated.
29EU spokesman Christian Wigand said it "will now recommend that member states ease some of the current restrictions" for those who have been vaccinated.
30Greece, for example, is heavily reliant on tourism.
31It has already lifted quarantine restrictions for the U.S., Britain, Israel, and other non-EU countries.
32Negotiations between governments and EU lawmakers to introduce COVID-19 proof of vaccination documents are continuing with a target date at the end of June.
33In France, cafes and restaurants reopened Wednesday after a six-month coronavirus shutdown that left the French without their beloved lifestyle.
34Its 7 p.m. curfew to was pushed back to 9 p.m.
35Museums and cinemas reopened.
36France has recorded more than 108,000 deaths due to COVID-19, among the highest number in Europe.
37But virus deaths are decreasing.
38About 40 percent of France's adult population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.
39That rate, however, is still well behind Britain's 70 percent and behind several other EU nations.
40Britain, no longer in the EU, reopened the country's famous pubs this week after a big drop in coronavirus infections.
41At the Prince of Peckham pub in London, marketing manager Helen Waller said "This pub brings people together.
42It's a nice mix of the community in an unforced way."
43But social distancing rules remain, limiting the number of drinkers.
44I'm Susan Shand.
45And I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Early in the pandemic, many Asian countries appeared to control the spread of the virus while European nations struggled with high numbers of deaths and infections. 2Not anymore. 3India on Wednesday reported more coronavirus deaths in one day than any other country at any time during the pandemic. The Health Ministry reported a record 4,529 deaths in the past 24 hours. India's confirmed deaths are 283,248. The numbers are almost certainly under-counted. 4The large cities of Mumbai and New Delhi have seen signs of improvement in recent days. But health experts fear that the virus is spreading in rural areas where health care and testing are limited. 5Across Asia, countries that had been praised earlier for effective control measures are now closing down due to rise in cases of infection. 6Taiwan, once considered a major success in battling the virus, has recorded more than 1,200 cases since last week. The independent island has since placed over 600,000 people in a two-week quarantine. 7The government has also ordered all schools to close across the island. And gatherings of more than five people indoors and more than 10 people outdoors are banned. 8In mainland China, new cases linked to international visitors have surfaced. And the country has set up medical stations for pandemic testing at airports and train stations. 9Vietnam closed four industrial centers in the north because of an outbreak of COVID-19. In the south, officials have begun carrying out mass testing of workers in that area's industrial production centers. Additional anti-virus measures were also ordered in an effort to prevent new outbreaks. 10In Japan, a top medical organization representing 6,000 doctors is now calling for the country to cancel this summer's Tokyo Olympics. 11A slow vaccination program, increase in virus cases, and a shortage of hospital beds led the government to extend a state of emergency in Tokyo and other parts of Japan for the third time. Bars, restaurants and public gathering places have been closed for months. The restrictions are set to end May 31. 12Malaysia announced a one-month lockdown through June 7, after an increase in cases and fear of the more infectious variants. The country's cases have increased by 300 percent since January, now it is at 485,000. 13Singapore has announced restrictions on public gatherings and closed restaurants. Schools have moved online as the spread of the virus appears to be increasing. 14Thailand also has seen the virus appear to increase, about 75 percent of Thailand's more than 116,000 cases have been recorded since the beginning of April. 15Europe reopens 16Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) on Wednesday began to welcome visitors from other parts of the world as long as they can prove they are fully-vaccinated. 17EU spokesman Christian Wigand said it "will now recommend that member states ease some of the current restrictions" for those who have been vaccinated. 18Greece, for example, is heavily reliant on tourism. It has already lifted quarantine restrictions for the U.S., Britain, Israel, and other non-EU countries. Negotiations between governments and EU lawmakers to introduce COVID-19 proof of vaccination documents are continuing with a target date at the end of June. 19In France, cafes and restaurants reopened Wednesday after a six-month coronavirus shutdown that left the French without their beloved lifestyle. Its 7 p.m. curfew to was pushed back to 9 p.m. Museums and cinemas reopened. 20France has recorded more than 108,000 deaths due to COVID-19, among the highest number in Europe. But virus deaths are decreasing. 21About 40 percent of France's adult population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. That rate, however, is still well behind Britain's 70 percent and behind several other EU nations. 22Britons drink again 23Britain, no longer in the EU, reopened the country's famous pubs this week after a big drop in coronavirus infections. 24At the Prince of Peckham pub in London, marketing manager Helen Waller said "This pub brings people together. It's a nice mix of the community in an unforced way." 25But social distancing rules remain, limiting the number of drinkers. 26I'm Susan Shand. And I'm Jonathan Evans. 27The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 28______________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30quarantine - n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading 31outbreak - n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease 32variants - n. different in some way from others of the same kind 33tourism - n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure 34proof - n. something which shows that something else is true or correct