Europe's second wave brushes past 'lockdown lite'

Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondent

Oct 28, 2020 – 4.35am

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London | Europe's second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has swept past the light-touch restrictions put in place in most parts of the continent, sparking warnings that tougher, economy-sapping measures could follow.

The seemingly unstoppable resurgence comes as a new study from Imperial College in London suggests COVID antibodies may last only a few months in the human system, throwing into doubt the prospect of herd immunity and workable vaccines.

Hans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London.