Millions of Europeans faced severe new restrictions related to the Coronavirus as governments stepped up efforts to slow the increase in infections, after the World Health Organization reported a “very worrying” 44% increase in European cases over one week.
As of Saturday evening, Paris and many other French cities are subject to a night-time curfew that lasts for at least a month. England bans mixed household gatherings in the capital and other regions, and the most populous region of Italy limits the opening of bars and the suspension of sporting events.
The need to work in France It was confirmed that the country reported another record for new cases, with more than 32,000 cases recorded within 24 hours.
Cases of the disease, which has killed more than 1.1 million people around the world, have risen to levels above levels seen in the first wave earlier this year, when many countries resorted to national lockdowns to control the crisis.
In addition to the death toll, the pandemic has caused social and economic chaos around the world.
The United States of America, Which suffered the worst toll with more than 218,000 deaths, on Friday revealed a record deficit of $ 3.1 trillion in the fiscal year ending September 30.
It also announced the number The number of cases there has exceeded 8 millionWhile global daily injuries also set a new record.
In an effort to stem the alarming spike in infections, and hoping to avoid a return to full lockdowns, many governments have tightened measures to control the spread of the pandemic – even if some opponents are fighting back in court.
Around 20 million people in the Paris region and eight other French cities are facing a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Saturday after a spike in cases in a region that is once again one of the main hotspots in Europe.
Many restaurant owners are unhappy with the blow their business will take.
“The closure at 9 pm will not have any effect (on the epidemic),” said Gerrard, a restaurant manager in Toulouse. “They are not attacking it in the correct way.”
Britain It is the country most affected in Europe, With more than 43,000 deaths from nearly 700,000.
But with the government escalating restrictions, banning internal meetings between different family members in London and many other English cities, there was growing criticism from some quarters.
Under the new measures, nearly 28 million people – half of England’s population – are now subject to severe social restrictions.
Some officials in northwest England have them They objected to their cities It’s placed on top of a new three-tiered alert system.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged that domestic restrictive policies cannot be “pain free”.
The hope, however, is that these measures will be sufficient to avoid another complete lockdown.
northern Ireland Meanwhile, bars and restaurants closed on Fridays for a month and extended school holidays.
GermanyChancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to stay home whenever possible after 7,830 cases emerged over a 24-hour period.
“What will determine winter and Christmas will be determined in the coming weeks,” she said in her weekly podcast address.
But on Friday, a Berlin court canceled an order to close restaurants and bars early, in the latest legal setback to efforts by national and local governments in Germany to curb the transmission of the Coronavirus.
in a ItalyThe wealthy northern Lombardy region, hardest hit by the first wave of the virus in February, has ordered all bars to close at midnight.
Slovakia It announced on Saturday that it will test everyone over 10 years old for the virus, as infections there have soared.
“The tests will be free,” Prime Minister Igor Matovici told reporters in the country of 5.4 million, without specifying whether they would be mandatory or voluntary.
Poland, The Czech Republic And the Belgium They all announced a record number of cases daily.
In the Czech Republic, the government required the military to establish a field hospital with a capacity of 500 beds outside Prague.
Belgium will impose a curfew of its own, from midnight to five in the morning, starting Monday, and cafes and restaurants will be closed for four weeks.
Poland has closed schools and colleges in major cities while restaurants have to close from 9 pm.
In other developments:
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AustriaAnd the Slovenia And the Hungary They all announced an increase in the number of cases – in Slovenia, the mandatory wearing of masks in public outdoor spaces went into effect on Saturday.
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Toll in Iran On Saturday, the Ministry of Health announced that it had crossed the 30,000 mark.
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Israel It is preparing to ease some of the lockdown restrictions from Sunday in the first phase of measures to reduce measures imposed last month.
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Saudi Arabia It allowed citizens and residents inside the kingdom to perform prayers in one of Islam’s holy sites, the Grand Mosque in Mecca, for the first time in seven months, state television reported in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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New ZealandThat eliminated the virus twice The first domestic case for a period of 22 days.
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French Collective Wallis and Futuna In the South Pacific, the first case of the entire epidemic was recorded.
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Saudi Arabia It allowed its citizens and residents inside the kingdom to perform prayers in one of the holiest religious sites in Islam, the Grand Mosque at MeccaFor the first time in seven months.
With Agence France-Presse
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