Europe is new epicenter of coronavirus pandemic
DENMARK — Officials on both sides of the Atlantic are saying Europe is the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield told US lawmakers in House hearing that “within the world now, over 70% of new cases are linked to Europe. … Europe is the new China.”
The head of the Danish Health Authority, Soeren Brostroem, said Thursday that “ the epidemic has gotten a new epicenter, and that is Europe.”
He told reporters that “if one looks at day-by-day developments, Europe has the greatest growth now. And it is not just Italy, but also a number of other countries in Europe that have had a worrying development.”
The European Center for Disease says the continent has more than 22,000 cases of the new coronavirus and 943 deaths.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said religious leaders have agreed to cancel weddings, baptisms, funeral services and other ceremonies in the coming weeks to help prevent spread of the new coronavirus.
Kurz said Thursday the measures were part of efforts to enforcing “social distancing” that also includes closing middle schools and high schools beginning Monday and postpone local elections March 22 in the state of Styria. Burials are still allowed.
He added that further measures would be announced Friday. Austria has 302 confirmed cases.
Edited by JPV
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