The second wave of the epidemic has broken out. Recently, the COVID-19 epidemic has rebounded rapidly in many European countries, with new daily cases in many countries continuing to hit new highs. Under this situation, many European countries have once again adopted emergency restrictive measures. Many European countries have canceled this year’s Christmas markets! Check out the report below!
Many places have canceled this year’s Christmas markets
In view of the fierce second wave of the new crown epidemic in Europe , due to epidemic prevention considerations, Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Erfurt in Germany, Strasbourg in France, Prague in the Czech Republic and other places announced the cancellation of this year’s Christmas markets.
The Christmas market, also known as the Christmas market, originated in Germany and Austria in the late Middle Ages, usually on November 1 every year It starts in late October and ends on December 24th. In the meantime, the bustling market is decorated like a fairy tale world, which is both romantic and full of human fireworks. People taste traditional food and buy small commodities there.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur News Agency reported on the 27th that after Frankfurt, Erfurt and other places announced the cancellation of Christmas markets, Germany’s most famous and largest Nuremberg Christmas Market also announced its cancellation. This market attracts more than 2 million people every year, including foreign tourists.
The city of Nuremberg initially planned to open a “shrunk version” of the Christmas market this year and strictly enforce epidemic prevention regulations, but ultimately announced the cancellation of the Christmas market on the 26th. Mayor Markus Koenig said in a statement: “This is a very difficult decision. The traditional Christmas market belongs in Nuremberg.”
Strasbourg, France The Christmas Market and Prague Christmas Market in the Czech Republic announced their cancellations on the 22nd and 26th respectively.
French President Macron
ordered the nationwide ” “Lockdown the city”
As of 14:00 local time on the 28th, France had 36,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a single day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases increased to 1,235,132, and 244 new in-hospital deaths. , a total of 35,785 cases. The percentage of positive tests over the past seven days continues to rise to 18.6%. The epidemic has rebounded seriously.
That night, French President Ma Yinglong gave a televised speech, admitting that France is facing a sudden acceleration, and the second wave of the epidemic has almost exceeded the entire territory. Alert threshold.
French President Macron ordered the country to be “closed” again from the 30th, and the “blocking” will be “unblocked” as early as December 1st. During this period, all private gatherings are prohibited, restaurants, shopping malls and other places will be closed, and France’s external borders to Europe will be closed.
Macron said that compared with the first round of the epidemic, the second round of the epidemic is more difficult and has a higher mortality rate. French people are called on to stay at home as much as possible and abide by epidemic prevention measures. “If we have better control over the epidemic in two weeks, we will reassess and hope to open some operations, especially during the Christmas period. I hope we can celebrate Christmas and New Year with our families.”
Germany announced a nationwide “lockdown” for one month starting from November 2. Like most other countries in Europe, Germany is now in the second wave of the epidemic. As of 17:00 local time on the 28th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Germany has reached 470,566, with 10,284 deaths.
German Chancellor Merkel announced that Germany will implement measures including A number of measures including closing most public facilities, dining and entertainment venues, and restricting personal travel. Although primary and secondary schools and kindergartens will still be open, the measures have reached the intensity implemented during the first wave of the epidemic at the beginning of the year, with German media calling it a “de facto lockdown.”
Merkel said that day: “We must take action now.” In addition, Germany will provide financial aid to companies affected by the new restrictions. Germany will enact a new 10 billion euro aid plan. Companies with up to 50 employees will receive 75% of their revenue in the same period last year in November, and individual workers such as artists will receive emergency loans.
In the next year
More than half of European small and medium-sized enterprises may go bankrupt!
The media quoted a survey released by McKinsey Consulting Company on the 22nd as pointing out that more than half of European small and medium-sized enterprises (small and medium-sized enterprises currently provide jobs for two-thirds of Europeans) are optimistic about the They are worried about their survival in the next 12 months.
According to a Reuters report in London on October 22, the accelerating development of the epidemic in Europe is forcing governments to implement new restrictions on various activities, which has triggered public concerns that the government will adopt new blockade measures. speculation. In addition, there are increasing warnings about the impending wave of corporate bankruptcies. The International Monetary Fund and others are urging Europe to�Governments around the world have stepped up support to help companies withstand the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a survey of more than 2,200 companies in five countries – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – McKinsey & Company found that if their revenues remained at current levels , then 55% of companies are expected to go bankrupt by September next year. On current trends, one in ten SMEs is expected to file for bankruptcy within six months.
Zdravko Mladenov, one of the authors of the investigation report, said: “This is a huge burden on the financial industry.” Other impacts It would also include a surge in unemployment and a disincentive to macroeconomic investment.
Economists interviewed by Reuters predicted last month that the euro zone economy would shrink by about 8% this year and grow by only 5.5% next year. They also warned that next year’s economic recovery would be vulnerable to further spread of the coronavirus.
By definition, small and medium-sized enterprises refer to enterprises with 250 employees or less. Such businesses employ more than 90 million people in Europe, and their small size makes them vulnerable to cash flow crises. In Spain, for example, 83% of the 85,000 companies that have closed down since February have fewer than five employees.
The report pointed out that so far, some rescue measures taken by European countries have saved thousands of troubled companies from collapse. But as those measures wind down in some cases, both Germany and the Bank of England have warned that bankruptcies could rise.
The International Monetary Fund said: “Policymakers must do everything they can to contain the epidemic and its economic damage, and not withdraw support measures prematurely to avoid a repeat of the global The consequences of the financial crisis.”
“For businesses, policy measures now need to go beyond liquidity support to ensure that insolvent but viable businesses can continue to operate. .” The organization mentioned measures such as creating facilities for debt restructuring.
The epidemic situation in Spain and Greece is urgent again. On the afternoon of October 28, local time, on the same day, Madrid, Castile and Leon, and Cas The presidents of the three regional governments of Tilla and La Mancha have reached an agreement that the three regions will implement border closure measures and residents will not be allowed to move in or out of the region except in cases of force majeure.
△On October 25, local time, the streets of Madrid, the capital, were sparsely populated
Greece Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Hadalias announced that Ioannina and Thrace were upgraded from the third level “orange enhanced surveillance level” to the fourth “red danger level” on the country’s epidemic map. The Greek government decided to implement blockade measures in the above two places from 6 a.m. on the 29th. There are currently 4 “red danger level” areas in Greece that implement blockade measures.
Hadalias also specifically warned that the country’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, and the third largest city, Larissa, are at a critical moment due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The global epidemic is still continuing to break out
Once again, we remind freight forwarders and cargo owners who have recently traded with ports in these countries and regions, It is still necessary to pay attention to the risk control of collection and delivery, and beware of problems such as customs clearance at the destination port, no one to pick up the goods at the destination port, buyers abandoning the goods, and non-payment. In order to avoid affecting the shipment and causing losses, please forward it to everyone~
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