IN a remarkable gesture of goodwill and generosity, Slovakia, the EU nation which is nearest in size to Scotland in terms of population, has agreed to send a package of aid to Italy.

Recently-elected Prime Minister Igor Matovic and his cabinet told the country’s finance ministry to spend €250,000 on the aid package.

It will take the form of sending healthcare staff to Italy, providing or lending health care materials and

personal protective equipment, and placing patients in healthcare facilities in Slovakia.

Ivan Korcok, Slovakia’s ambassador to the USA, tweeted: “Italy is experiencing the most difficult moments in its modern history. Slovakia is willing to help. Glad that my country approved the assistance to Italy.”

With its early and swift reaction to the pandemic, Slovakia with its population of 5.4 million, is one Europe’s least-affected countries, proof perhaps that smaller nations can act quicker than large ones like Italy, which has a population of 60m.

Slovakia was among the first countries to close shops, bars, and cultural and sport venues. The country has registered around 850 cases – the fourth-lowest in the European Union after Bulgaria, Latvia and Malta – and has reported just two deaths.

Yesterday, Matovic, who only took office last month, said shops should remain closed but other locked-down areas of the economy might be considered for re-opening.

That economy is suffering badly. Bloomberg reports that “the export-oriented economy, which is dominated by the car industry, may shrink as much as a 10th this year and cause the budget deficit to swell to 10% of gross domestic product. It added: “The government has vowed to spend €1.2 billion a month on measures to shield workers from unemployment.”

Matovic, a centre-right populist who stood on anti-corruption ticket, said any re-opening would be based on the recommendations of his government’s scientific advisers and that “not a single economist” would have a say in the matter.

Danish pupils start going back to school

DENMARK has become the first country in the European Union to start the return of children to schools after they were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools began a phased re-opening yesterday after they were officially closed on March 17 in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, though many had shut before then.

Classes are only resuming in about half of Denmark’s municipalities and in about 35% of Copenhagen’s schools, as others have requested more time to adjust to health protocols. All are expected to

re-open by April 20.

In the centre of Copenhagen, some 220 pupils up to the second grade arrived at the Norrebro Park Skole, welcomed by their teachers, who waved Danish flags. Children in the third and fourth grades will follow today.

Earlier this month, the Danish Government announced that schools would be re-opened “on the condition that everyone keeps their distance and washes their hands.”

Some parents have started a petition against the move, saying they don’t want their children to be used as guinea pigs.

By yesterday, it had gathered 18,000 signatures and 15 parents at the Norrebro school refused to send their children back,

According to the petition’s organisers, “children can easily carry the disease without getting sick.”

Schools are required to ensure that a distance of two metres is maintained between desks in classrooms and recesses must be organised for small groups.

Teachers must also ensure pupils are never in groups of more than two while inside and five outside.

Denmark’s bars, restaurants, hairdressers, shopping centres and discos remain closed, and gatherings of more than 10 people are banned.

Finland starts to lift capital lockdown

NORDIC country Finland, which has a population similar to that of Scotland, has been able to start lifting the lockdown which saw capital Helsinki blockaded.

Finland has had 3161 confirmed coronavirus cases and 64 deaths, with 232 patients admitted to hospital, 162 of them in the capital region.

Health security director Mika Salminen of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare said: “The restrictive measures have clearly slowed down the disease’s spreading.”

Travel restrictions to and from Uusimaa, the capital region which has been worst hit by the pandemic, to the rest of the country began on March 28 to prevent people from spreading the virus to other parts of Finland.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin said yesterday that the government no longer had legal grounds to continue the lockdown, considering it an extreme measure to restrict people’s freedom of movement so strictly.

Marin said: “It is no longer an absolutely necessary restriction measure in the way required in the Emergency Powers Act.”

The government nevertheless recommended people avoid all unnecessary travel, she said.

“On the basis of collected data, the accumulation of disease cases can be restricted with other existing measures,” said Maria Ohisalo, interior minister, adding that Finland’s public healthcare system has not run out of any resources

The other measures in place include closing schools and public places such as libraries until May 13. Restaurants will remain closed until the end of May, except for takeaway sales.

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