Lee Heidhues 11.19.2021
I am fortunate to live in San Francisco where the local Administration has taken the Pandemic seriously since day one.
Nearly two years into the Pandemic citizens are required to wear masks indoors. Many people voluntarily wear masks outdoors. Locals are waiting in long lines to receive their vaccines and have remained overwhelmingly supportive of how local leadership is handling the Pandemic.
As a result of its aggressive policy and an accommodating population San Francisco has one of the lowest infection rates in United States
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/coronavirus.asp
The European Union has been faced with intense opposition to Covid-19 restrictions. Most leaders understand the danger and continue to pursue a vigorous strategy to stop the spread of Covid-19 as the Pandemic enters its second winter.
Austria and Germany in particular have imposed strict regulations forcing its citizens to comply with government mandates.
The Dutch are particularly incensed by what a segment of its population believe to be an unfair intrusion into their freedom of choice.
Deutsche Welle 11.19.2021
A demonstration with several hundred people in Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city turned violent Friday evening with rioters setting fire to cars and clashing with riot police. Riot police clashed with stone-throwing rioters in the Dutch port city after hundreds gathered to oppose stricter anti-coronavirus measures.
Police said they fired water cannons and warning shots to disperse rioters, and at least seven people were wounded. At least 20 people have been arrested so far.
A demonstration had been called by several organizations in opposition to a government plan to restrict access to indoor venues to people who have a “corona pass” proving they are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID.
Last week, the Netherlands partially reimposed lockdown measures to slow a resurgence of the virus, with daily infection numbers at some of their highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic.
Last January, when a curfew was imposed in the Netherlands, riots in several cities caused millions of euros in damage.
“We fired warning shots and there were also direct shots fired because the situation was life-threatening,” police spokesperson Patricia Wessels told Reuters news agency. Police have not commented on the state of those injured, but said their officers were also wounded.
Dutch broadcaster NOS said at least one police car was set on fire and others were damaged. Police officers and firefighters were also pelted with objects.
Images posted on social media showed cars on fire, fireworks being ignited, and debris and trash bins on fire in the street and rioters throwing stones and fireworks at police.
Authorities shut down public transportation in the city, closed the main train station and ordered people to go home.
https://www.dw.com/en/rotterdam-shaken-by-riots-over-planned-coronavirus-curbs/a-59886286
Lee's Perspective 