The WHO warns of the long-term effects of the pandemic on the mental state. Spain’s economy is recovering. The US continues to prohibit travel to Canada. The events in the live blog.
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USA continues to prohibit travel to Canada
The US government still bans non-essential travel between the country and Canada. The US Department of Homeland Security said the ban will apply until at least August 21. On Monday, the Canadian government announced that US citizens fully vaccinated against the coronavirus would be allowed back into the country on August 9. It was initially unclear whether the extension of the USA would affect the Canadian requirement.
Politicians in US states on the border with Canada criticized the extension. It is absurd, said Republican governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu. The US Congressmen from Maine, who are two Democratic MPs and one Republican and independent Senate member, wrote to US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to allow fully vaccinated Canadians into the country. The Republican governor of the US state of North Dakota, Doug Burgum, also criticized the decision.
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, both countries had restricted non-essential land travel. Canadians were able to enter the other country with a negative coronavirus test. According to an estimate by the US Travel Association, closing the border costs $ 1.5 billion every month.
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Recovery for the economy of Spain
Spain’s economy is recovering from the effects of the corona pandemic and expanding in the second quarter. Economic growth has increased by an estimated 2.4 percent and is well on the way to growing by six percent this year and seven percent in 2022, said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at an event organized by Reuters news agency during a trip to the United States.
The background to his visit is to win potential US investors for modernization projects in Spain. He said he wanted to mobilize around $ 500 billion in private investment to complement the recovery program funded by the European Union.
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WHO warns of long-term effects on the psyche
The European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) points out the long-term effects of the corona pandemic on people’s mental health. It is not just the infections and the fear of such an infection that could hit the psyche, said the WHO regional office in Europe. Everyone is affected in one way or another by the psychological effects of lockdowns and self-isolation, but also the consequences of unemployment, financial worries, social exclusion and other things.
“People in the European region are literally collapsing under the burden of Covid-19 and its consequences,” said WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge. The effects of the Corona crisis would have taken an enormous toll on people’s mental health and well-being. At the same time, the pandemic offers countries an opportunity to rethink and reform their mental health care. “This is an opportunity that no country can afford to waste if we want to rebuild better and stronger,” said Kluge. Mental health and wellbeing should be seen as basic human rights.