7 injured in Dutch ship arson and riots
Spread to Switzerland, Italy and Croatia
WHO predicts 500,000 deaths from COVID-19 in Europe in March next year
▲ Protesters set fire to scooters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on the 19th to protest the COVID-19 lockdown policy. Rotterdam/EPA
Protests are taking place across Europe to protest policies related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the death toll from COVID-19 could hit 500,000 in Europe alone, amid voices opposing the reopening of lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations.
According to the Associated Press on the 20th (local time), tens of thousands of far-right groups took to the streets to protest in Vienna, Austria. This is because the Austrian government announced a nationwide lockdown policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from the 22nd.
The Austrian government made the decision in recent weeks after the average daily death rate has tripled and the intensive care unit for critically ill patients has reached a point where it can no longer accommodate patients. The lockdown will last at least 10 to 20 days, and will be implemented in a way that restricts going out except for grocery shopping, hospital visits and exercise.
In addition, from February 1 of next year, vaccination is also made compulsory. Currently, 66% of Austria’s population of 8.9 million have completed the second dose.
At least seven people were injured and 20 were arrested when police fired warning shots at protesters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands the day before. Hundreds of protesters were said to have thrown stones at the police or set fire to vehicles and scooters on the street at the time. The day after the riots, thousands and hundreds of people took to the streets to march in Amsterdam and Breda, respectively.
Protests against the lockdown were also held in Switzerland, Croatia, Italy and Northern Ireland. They also oppose the introduction of green passes and mandatory vaccination policies for access to restaurants and stadiums, the Associated Press explained.
Meanwhile, the WHO has warned that by March next year, 500,000 people could die from COVID-19 in Europe alone. “We are very concerned about the new wave spreading across continental Europe,” WHO’s European Director-General Hans Kluge told the BBC. I know what to do,” he said.
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