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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has advocated for the swift application of the national “emergency brake” to contain the coronavirus pandemic, including a curfew. “The virus does not forgive half measures,” he warned. “Every day before the emergency brake is applied throughout the country, it is a day won,” Merkel explained to Parliament, where a reform is being debated to be able to apply measures at the national level. The Community of Madrid has asked citizens for “maximum prudence” to contain the advance of the covid pandemic in the region, where there has been “a slight upward trend in incidence” that is expected to continue for at least “two weeks” , as indicated by the Regional Deputy Minister of Health, Antonio Zapatero. The vice councilor has assured that “if more vaccines do not arrive” the regional Executive will be forced to close the mass vaccination centers. Outside of Spain, infections in India are still rampant: more than 217,000 cases have been registered in one day, the eighth time in nine days that a daily maximum has been marked.
