International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 - Edition 9, 27th of August 2020
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Would you: ■ Like to know more about one of the examples mentioned in this Monitor? ■ Do you have a question you would like to ask, or would you like to get in touch with particular towns or cities? ■ Would you like to receive this Monitor in your inbox in future? If so, please send an email to internationaloffice@amsterdam.nl This Monitor aims to provide a general impression of the measures taken by other cities in Europe and around the world following the outbreak of COVID-19. The Monitor addresses various fields; all examples are selected in light of their relevance to cities, particularly to Amsterdam. This document also contains overviews of EU measures and of sources of information that are relevant to cities. For more information about the way that Amsterdam is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, go to this website. You can find the previous editions of the monitor here.
Content Local and regional lockdowns in the United Kingdom 4 Local and regional lockdowns in Germany 6 Local restrictions in the province of Antwerp 7 Face masks in France 8 Impact of corona on metropolitan regions 9 In lockdown in Israël 11 Focus on the nights during coronavirus 14 Tourism during and post COVID-19 16 Housing market: exodus from cities? 18 Overview of relevant resources 19
Local and regional lockdowns in the United Kingdom Local lockdown measures are (or At the end of June, Leicester became Due to the fact that the measures were) in place in four areas of the one of the first cities in Europe to face taken in in schools and workplaces United Kingdom. These areas are a local lockdown. While some measures proved not to have been sufficiently in Leicester, Luton (not far north of were relaxed in the rest of the United successful, more drastic measures were London) and Northern England, which Kingdom on 4 July, this was not the implemented in Leicester in order to includes Greater Manchester. On 22 case in Leicester. A local lockdown was reduce the spread of the virus. After August, Northampton was added to deemed to be required after health having been open for two weeks, the list of locations where stricter workers reported a steep rise in the shops not selling basic necessities local measures apply. The measures number of infections in the city. In the were required to shut their doors were relaxed in Luton on 1 August. two weeks prior to 23 June, Leicester again. Restaurants, bars and fitness City Council reported 944 positive centres had to stay closed. During the To assist local authorities in establishing coronavirus tests. local lockdown, non-essential visits to and managing local lockdowns, the Leicester are permitted. Residents are national government has published This increase was striking, as the also permitted to leave the city. guidelines, which are designed to help number of infections in Leicester was local decision-makers. Local authorities three times higher than in the city A striking number of infections were are responsible with the second-highest number of reported among young residents and for planning and implementing coronavirus infections in the United in a neighbourhood in the east of the local lockdowns and the associated Kingdom. In this period, Leicester city. This is a poor, densely populated measures. The police are authorised to accounted for 10 per cent of the total neighbourhood, with large families fine anyone who fails to comply with infections in the whole of the United living in small houses, which renders the measures. Kingdom. social distancing more difficult. People International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 4 of 20
with health issues were advised to stay for the rise in the number of infections travel outside of your own district or at home (shield) as much as possible are considered to be meetings and area. Holidays are permitted, but only and to avoid contact with others. parties involving different households with people from the same household. Leicester City Council published advice and the failure to observe social on this subject on their website. The distancing measures. The national Northampton local authorities offered people who government and local authorities are A recent outbreak of coronavirus decided to shield two face masks for if working together to stop the virus infections has been linked to the they needed to leave the house. spreading further. Greencore factories in the city of Northampton. Greencore, which The measures in Leicester were relaxed The measures are in force in the produces food for stores including again on 19 August. Beauty salons, following districts and areas: Marks & Spencer, decided to close tattoo shops and nail studios are all Greater Manchester: City of their doors from 21 August after now allowed to reopen. However, Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, almost 300 of their 2,100 staff tested services requiring close contact – such Oldham, Bury, Wigan, Bolton, positive for coronavirus. Staff who had as eyebrow and facial treatments – are Tameside, Rochdale and Salford. worked in the factory in the two weeks still not permitted. Fitness centres Lancashire: Blackburn together with prior were asked to go into quarantine offering indoor sports activities, indoor Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, for two weeks. The measures are swimming pools, casinos and indoor Preston and Rossendale. focused specifically on the staff, their playgrounds are all to remain closed. West Yorkshire: Bradford, Calderdale housemates, and their homes. • The local lockdown is in force for the and Kirklees. entire city and the surrounding area. The specific measures can vary per Greater Manchester district and area. For example, the There is a new coronavirus outbreak measures in Bradford are stricter in parts of Greater Manchester, than those in the other areas in the East Lancashire, Preston and West Northwest of England. The advice in Yorkshire. The most significant causes the Northwest of England is not to International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 5 of 20
Local and regional lockdowns in Germany Germany is fighting outbreaks of During the lockdown, inhabitants of to Gütersloh and the neighbouring COVID-19 with targeted local and Gütersloh were only allowed out of district of Warendorf. The inhabitants regional restrictions, such as bans on the house with one other member were permitted to leave the district. going out in the evenings. Closing of their household, and all public Restrictions did not apply outside the down entire neighbourhoods is thought buildings, including museums, were zone where the lockdown had been to be impossible and ineffective. Local closed. Catering establishments were imposed. In July, the courts ended this lockdowns can be introduced when the allowed to open but customers were local lockdown, advising ‘flexible tailor- number of infections rises above only welcome with a member of their made measures’ instead. 50 per 100,000 inhabitants. own household. The restrictions applied Gütersloh On 23 June, a partial local lockdown was introduced in the German town of Gütersloh. It followed a huge COVID-19 outbreak linked to a meat factory in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. The number of people in the meat factory who contracted the coronavirus rose to 1,553, which was approximately one quarter of the workforce. Some family members of employees also contracted the virus. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 6 of 20
Local restrictions in the province of Antwerp A lot of Dutch people spent part of this summer with their southern neigh- Decision-making on crisis measures bours (the Belgians). The borders with Belgium had been open again from 15 These extra restrictions came about June and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified the whole of Belgium as after consultations between the a ‘code yellow’ country. But Dutch tourists in Belgium were soon faced with governor of Antwerp, the Provincial more stringent measures than they had been used to at home. From 29 July Crisis Cell and the Director-General to 26 August, the restrictions that had previously been lifted were tightened of the National Crisis Centre. They up in response to the rising rate of coronavirus infections. came on top of the existing federal measures. Municipalities can refine Restrictions ■ Alcohol may not be sold between and tighten the measures after ■ Face masks were made mandatory in 22.00 and 6.00. consultation. Mayors were involved in public areas throughout the province ■ Overcrowding on the Oostende the process, but decisions were largely of Antwerp for everyone of 12 years beaches meant that for a long time, made at the Provincial Resolution and older. This means that everyone people had to reserve a place on the level. The governor is responsible for over 12 must wear a face mask on the beach. enforcing public order in the province, street, and on the way to the toilet i.e. public peace, security and health. from an outdoor terrace. Extra restrictions were imposed in the ■ A curfew was imposed. People are hardest-hit areas (in and around the The latest figures show that the banned from public areas between city of Antwerp): all events and parties situation appears to be under 1.30 and 5.00, except essential or im- were strictly forbidden, party venues control since these measures were perative journeys for urgent medical were closed, gyms were forced to shut introduced. Read more about the reasons, for essential work or when their doors. restrictions in Flanders here. leaving for/returning from holiday. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 7 of 20
Face masks in France France makes face masks mandatory applies to Confined areas at work and in schools anyone over Face masks have been Due to the rising rate of infections in 11 and has been in mandatory in confined areas France in recent weeks, as from 1 Sep- force since 21 August. in France for several weeks. This tember, the French must start wearing Face masks are also mandatory when includes public transport, museums, face masks at work. They may only take riding a bike or scooter, and when cafés, restaurants, shops, churches, their mask off if they are working in an carpooling. The general response from post offices, banks and cinemas. Peo- individual, closed-off workplace. residents has been positive because it ple may only remove their face masks takes away the uncertainty about when in restaurants while they are eating. The French government has also made and where face masks should be worn They must be worn when arriving at it mandatory for secondary school and when not. As from 26 August, face the restaurant, when leaving and when pupils from the age of 11 to wear face masks will also be mandatory through- going to the toilet. masks when at school. The Ministry of out the city of Marseille. Education is supplying teaching staff Restricted opening hours in Marseille with face masks; pupils must provide In recent weeks, hundreds of towns Marseille is the first city in France to their own. and villages decided to make face force bars and restaurants to close masks mandatory in busy streets and at their doors between 23.00 and 6.00. Face masks mandatory throughout markets. Examples are Paris and Lyon, This step was taken when the number Nice, Toulouse and Marseille and suburbs such as Saint-Denis, the of infections rose steeply over the past Toulouse and Nice are the first major holiday destination La Rochelle and the few days. The measure is currently set cities to make face masks mandato- industrial city Rouen. Non-compliance to apply until 30 September. ry throughout the city. The measure can lead to fines of € 135 or more. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 8 of 20
Impact of COVID-19 on metropolitan regions COVID-19 also has its impact on a metropolitan scale. This impact is seen in challenges related to mobility, the labour market, sustainability and the recovery phase. Metropolitan regions in Europe differ in terms of structure, management and democratic content. What they have in common is reflected in the issues dealt with. They are spatial, economic and mobility challenges, which include bus services. Stations, stops and means As far as sustainability is concerned, issues relating to sustainability, afforda- of transport need to be arranged dif- many metropolitan regions, including bility and quality of life. ferently to facilitate social distancing. the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam In metropolitan regions, the pedestri- (MRA), aim to use the momentum cre- As a result of COVID-19, for example, an and cycling infrastructure has to be ated by the recovery from the corona the use of local and regional public developed faster: better connections, crisis to accelerate the transition to- transport systems has sharply declined more space, better flow of traffic. This wards a more sustainable society. This and public transport companies are presents metropolitan regions with new is prompted by economic and ecolo- sustaining considerable losses on the dilemmas in spatial choices and the use gical convictions and agreements. It operation of underground, tram and of scarce resources. involves accelerated greening of busi- International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 9 of 20
with these issues. The EMA organises webinars in which officials share their experiences, expertise and ambitions. On behalf of the MRA, Haarlemmer- meer alderwoman and MRA adminis- trator Marja Ruigrok took part in a we- binar with the metropolitan regions of Milan and Oslo, led by Metropolis GZM (Katowice). These metropolitan regions have simi- larities with regard to impact and reco- very ambitions, each emphasising their own aspects based on their local situati- on. Alderwoman Ruigrok presented two scenarios for recovery for the MRA. The first scenario concerns a 20-minute me- tropolis in which housing, work and re- creation is accessible within 20 minutes nesses (reduction of CO2 emissions), pean Green Deal and the fight against for every resident. The second scenario the use of circular chains, more clean COVID-19, more policy, knowledge and is the modular metropolis, in which new energy generation, the transition of la- finance instruments are being made and existing buildings are developed or bour from a ‘fossil’ economy in which a available by the EU. redeveloped based on the principles of lot of labour is lost to growing sectors, sustainability and reuse. These scena- accelerated improvement of internati- Metropolitan regions use their net- rios were developed by the Amsterdam onal rail links to replace short-distance works, such as METREX and the Euro- Economic Board. • flights, the development of heating and pean Metropolitan Authorities (EMA), cooling solutions, etc. With the Euro- to exchange knowledge on how to deal International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 10 of 20
In lockdown in Israël Text and photographs by Hadas Itzkovitch and Anya van Lit Photographers Hadas Itzkovitch and Anya van Lit flew to Israel at the end of February for a photo project and to visit family. Due to a lockdown, they were stuck in an idyllic living/working community for 3 months. Israel is now experiencing its second wave of COVID-19 cases, this time without a lockdown but with strict measures. The sky is blue today, bluer than it was yesterday. It is day 50 of our lockdown in the Garden of Eden. Nothing is happening here. There is a snake sunbathing at the entrance to the house. It’s a grass snake that has lost its way in the fields around our temporary home. We came here at the end of February to spend a few weeks visiting family in Israel. We settled into a beautiful house with a swimming pool surrounded by fields and plantations in moshav Haniel, an agricultural cooperative in the Hefer Valley. We had been there just a few days when the first infections were discovered in the Netherlands and Israel, and the virus was spreading all over the world. ‘50 tangerines, 50 days in lockdown’ Photography by Hadas Itzkovitch and Anya van Lit International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 11 of 20
Tourists were no longer allowed into But this paradise contrasted sharply death toll had already risen to more the country, but we thought we could with Israel’s harsh reality. The govern- than 3,000. After just over 3 months, still get out. Our flight was cancelled, ment made the lockdown stricter and we flew back to Amsterdam in a and Israel closed its airspace to almost stricter. Everyone had to wear a mask crowded plane. all passenger flights. in public, all shops were closed except supermarkets and pharmacies. You The sky is blue today. From our We were safe, and we were in a nice had to stay within a hundred metres of window, in the centre of Amsterdam, place. At the time, we had no idea that your house. No family visits; parks and we watch lines of tourist following their soon we would no longer be able to beaches were closed. The government guide across the Torensluis bridge. The step outside the house. set up a special army unit to help the outdoor cafés are still open after police monitor the roads. The Israeli 1 a.m.. As soon as the sun shines, Our friends assured us that we could secret service, Shin Bet, tracked the people sit close together, slightly stay in their house for the time being. residents through the mobile phone inebriated, in small boats. In the hustle We walked into the garden and felt a network. We instinctively turned off all and bustle of Amsterdam it seems like sense of peace come over us. From of our phones. Only to turn them back the virus never existed. It’s difficult to then on, we would take everything one on again half an hour later, because we keep a distance from whole groups day at a time. There was nothing else can’t live without them. of unmasked people in the narrow we could do. streets. When we decided to drive to Hadas’ We woke up to the sound of singing parents to deliver groceries, we almost Israel appeared to have defeated birds, with the smell of pure air filled drove into a barricade. After showing the virus. Public life opened up again with citrus blossom. We followed the the soldiers the full bag on the back there too, and people were able to bees to the best fruit trees in the area seat we were allowed to continue our meet up in groups again. As a result, and at night we listened to the jackals journey. But it felt as if we were under a second wave, with more than 1000 howling nearby. Meanwhile, we were siege. infections a day, is now flooding the busy working on sketches for a new country. Our visit in October, to finish a photography project. The surrounding The rigorous lockdown is slowly photography project, seems like a far- area became our studio. containing the virus, with 208 people fetched killed so far. In the Netherlands, the reality. • International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 12 of 20
‘Hold your breath for 50 seconds’ Photography by Hadas Itzkovitch and Anya van Lit International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 13 of 20
Focus on the nights during coronavirus In many cities across the globe, night- was compiled in cooperation with an time culture is facing its greatest international panel, including night challenge ever: clubs, venues and mayors, academics and people from other cultural places where people the music industry, among others, and gather are likely to be the last places is intended as an interactive platform allowed to reopen. A balance needs for cities to share strategies, tools and to be found between health, public lessons learned. Chapters of the plan order and security, the economy, will be published over the course of employment, public space, culture, the year. events and enforcement. The first chapter, published in July, Examples from practice: focuses on the use of open-air space. Berlin, Vilnius Due to the ongoing restrictions on the Research into this balance is also use of indoor spaces and the increasing being conducted in the international desire to socialise, the demand sector, in the ‘Global Nighttime for open-air space has increased Recovery Plan’ report, for example. significantly over recent months. This report offers a practical guide The report lists the advantages and for cities trying to determine ways challenges of open-air hospitality, and strategies to safely reopen their outdoor events and ‘free gatherings’. It creative and night-time economies. It discusses case studies including open- International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 14 of 20
air festivals in Berlin which, according to the report, did lead to a great deal of criticism but not to a rise in infections. The pavement café policy in Vilnius resulted in more space but, just as in Amsterdam, also met with criticism from local residents. The Global Nighttime Recovery Plan conducted research in several cities and reached the following findings: 1. In cities where there are no alternative social activities, dangerous illegal social activities are found. 2. In cities where lockdown easing takes place too soon, people quickly relax and are less inclined to adhere to the rules, increasing the risk of a second lockdown. 3. In cities where infection rates are low, a false sense of security develops, These issues are also prevalent in The above findings reveal that local leading people to act as if the virus Amsterdam. There is close coordination governments and authorities which are no longer exists and the economic with the sector in that respect. Close close to their people and communicate problems have disappeared. This contact is also maintained with fellow clearly with their residents will come can affect vigilance and moreover governments of various cities in the out of this crisis better and be better leads politicians to ignore struggling Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the able to cope with a future one. More businesses (in the night-time culture, world to share policies, strategies and info on the Global Nighttime Recovery for example). experiments. Plan is available via vibe-lab.org. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 15 of 20
Tourism during and post COVID-19 Amsterdam has asked the city ad- over-tourism before the pandemic took ministrations of Barcelona, Cologne, place and closed down all tourism activ- Genova, Florence, London and Venice ities. For Cologne, Genua and London about their tourism policies during and over-tourism was not really an issue be- after COVID-19 crisis and whether they fore the pandemic. From all the cities it change their policies in order to pre- becomes clear tourism is an important vent a second wave of COVID-19 and part of their economy and that they to prevent over-tourism in the near and are all looking into how tourism can be further future. The cities were asked re-started. how they deal with tourism in the re- covery phase in order to prevent a sec- Cologne has for example started a ond wave of COVID-19 infections and conversation with hotels, restaurants potentially a second lockdown of the and bars about putting measures into city, but also how they view tourism in place to prevent the virus from spread- the longer term. Furthermore, the cities ing. Also Florence is actively informing were asked how they involve both the the public about health measures to citizens and representatives of the tour- prevent spreading of the virus. Fur- ism sector in making the policy plans. thermore, most cities are looking into spreading tourists over the city and to The cities Barcelona, Florence and prevent overcrowding in the usually Venice indicate they suffered from popular city centres. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 16 of 20
In general, all cities are looking for Florence also consulted the citizens of more quality tourism, which means Florence in a participatory approach attracting tourists that look at more sus- about the new tourism policy plans. In tainable, greener options but also who Genova, the citizens of the city centre stay for a longer period of time in the are made part of the new tourism plans. city and choose more activities to do and places to visit. In Venice, where there is a stark con- trast between the interests of the tour- None of the cities mentioned spe- ism sector and the citizens, there is cific measures aimed at preventing currently no involvement with the cit- over-tourism. It seems more focussed izens as the local government favours on changing the type of activities on the tourism sector by claiming that offer and places to visit to change the tourism provides jobs and supports the type of tourists coming to the cities and local economy. Cologne and London to increase the length of time spent in do seem to suffer less from stark inter- the city. est contradictions between the tourism sector and the citizens of the city. • The Italian cities and Barcelona all con- sult the tourism sector about new plans and initiatives concerning tourism via a so-called tourism council. The process used in Florence seems quite extensive with several online meetings and public presentations. In Cologne and Lon- don this consult seems less organised through councils but seem to be more direct. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 17 of 20
Housing market an exodus from cities due to the corona crisis? The impact of the coronavirus on housing, mostly in larger towns and the housing market appears to vary cities, is often found to be the cause of around the world. While the housing coronavirus infections market is seemingly unaffected in the Netherlands (except for the fact that The effect of the coronavirus on the more people are looking for a house Berlin housing market is such that with a garden), the United Kingdom has there are currently very few changes seen more people wanting to leave the in ownership or tenancy. There are cities than those wanting to move to no signs of an exodus out of the city, one. People want more space and, with as there is in London. The advantage so few social activities – if any – being of Berlin is that there is a lot of green able to take place now, there are fewer space and relatively much outdoor and fewer advantages to living in the space. city. In the United States we again see This trend in the housing market has that, given the possibilities of working led to a fear that the inequality in the remotely, people are increasingly coming months, however, house prices country will increase. Only wealthy looking for a home in a less expensive in the US are expected to fall as a white-collar workers are able to afford area. There was also a rise in the result of the high unemployment rates to move away from the cities, in number of home sales over the past the country has experienced and will addition to which small, poor quality months, despite the crisis. For the continue to experience. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 18 of 20
Overview If you would like to know more about an example in this monitor or have a question, please let us know: of relevant resources internationaloffice@amsterdam.nl ■ New in this overview: An overview ■ The Global Parliament of Mayors ■ This handbook examines research of the infection rates at sub-national has an overview of best practices and methods and forecasting relating to (regional) level in Europe. a forum for questions from directors. the coronavirus. ■ The OECD has launched a website ■ The City Innovators Forum has ■ Eurocities has a website containing containing policy analyses and figures designed a comprehensive toolbox urban best practices and organises relating to COVID-19, focusing in for urban policy during the time of webinars on a variety of topics. particular on the economy, health, the coronavirus. and social affairs ■ UNESCO has compiled a list of useful ■ The European Commission’s Joint tools and tips to facilitate distance ■ The National Association of City Research Centre has an ‘overview of learning. Transportation Officials has relevant overviews‘ information for and by transport pro- ■ Smart Cities World mainly looks at fessionals. ■ The European Committee of AI, ICT and the future in relation to Regions has an interactive map the coronavirus. ■ Politics of COVID-19 weekly gives on measures in different European the most relevant highlights and regions ■ C40 also provides information on webinars on COVID-19 various themes and there are board ■ CEMR (Council of European Municip- and expert level discussions. In additi- ■ The World Economic Forum, the alities and Regions) has recommenda- on, C40 has a specialised Knowledge Resilient Cities Network, Friends tions for waste collection during the Hub. of Europe and UCLG also regularly coronavirus crisis. facilitate webinars. International monitor of urban approaches dealing with COVID-19 Edition 9, 27th of August 2020 Page 19 of 20
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