Confronting pictures reveal Europe’s Covid chaos as case numbers soar to record highs

Confronting footage has revealed the extent of the Covid chaos currently engulfing Europe, as case numbers surge to terrifying highs.

Clashes erupt between anti-riot officers and anti-vaxxers affiliated to far-right parties in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Picture: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Europe has once again erupted into violence as the Covid crisis currently plaguing the continent sparks fresh protests in the Netherlands.

On Sunday, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the capital city of Amsterdam, breaking current public health orders to protest against lockdowns and vaccinations.

The protesters were met by riot police complete with batons, shields and police dogs, with video footage and photographs capturing the brutal scenes, with demonstrators being mauled by dogs and manhandled by officers.

One group donned white overalls and masks and waved signs with messages such as “Where is Your Limit?”, “Freedom” and “It’s Not About a Virus, It’s About Control”.

Police later confirmed at least 30 people were detained, with four officers injured during the clashes.

2022-01-02 +++ Amsterdam +++ #2januariamsterdam#klaarmetrutte#wef#eindelockdownnu#Museumplein#StopQR#HoldTheLine#NoThankYou#NoVaccinePassport#coronaprotest#COVID19pic.twitter.com/9E4ldQnTvI

— Guerrilla Reporters (@GuerrillaRepor1) January 2, 2022

The latest protest was held in response to the nation’s snap lockdown on December 19, which saw the government shut down non-essential businesses and venues until January 14 at the earliest.

Under the current rules, public gatherings of more than two people are also banned.

At the time, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the latest lockdown was “unavoidable” as the continent faced a crushing new wave, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts will claim hundreds of thousands of lives over the winter months.

“The Netherlands is again shutting down. That is unavoidable because of the fifth wave that is coming at us with the Omicron variant,” Mr Rutte told a televised news conference last month.

Thousands defied public health orders to participate in the protest. Picture: Sanne Derks/Getty Images

Clashes erupt between anti-riot officers and anti-vaxxers affiliated to far-right parties in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Picture: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Karel van Klaveren holds a sign during the prohibited anti-Covid measurements demonstration in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Picture: Sanne Derks/Getty Images

The demonstration was held despite an emergency ordinance by Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, which gave police the power to clear the city’s Museum Square after protesters broke the ban on public gatherings.

France’s brutal crackdown

The unrest in the Netherlands comes as France announced a fresh plan to crack down on the unvaccinated.

Under a proposed new bill, unvaccinated residents could be barred from entering restaurants, bars and other public venues.

If adopted, the bill will kick in from January 15, and will replace the current health pass system, which requires proof of full vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 before an individual is able to access public venues.

It would allow workers to carry out identity checks on customers if their vaccine pass was in doubt, and venues that fail to check the authenticity of customers’ passes could face stiff penalties.

Those which use fake passes will face five years behind bars and a fine of €75,000 ($A117,000).

However, the proposed rules would not apply to workplaces, social services or healthcare settings.

A Covid tester waits for patients at a pharmacy in Paris, France as new cases surge past 200,000 per day. Picture: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

Meanwhile, France has also announced isolation changes for those who test positive, with the fully vaccinated only having to isolate for seven days instead of 10, although the unvaccinated will generally still need to abide by the 10-day isolation rule.

Mask mandates will also be extended to include children aged over six at public venues.

And from mid-February, booster shots will be required four months after a second Covid vaccination, instead of the current seven months, for a person to be considered fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Olivier Véran told Le Journal du Dimanche vaccination was the only way to defeat the virus.

“Omicron is so contagious that it will affect all populations of the world. It will lead to enhanced immunity, we will all be better armed afterwards,” he said.

There’s a fresh vaccination push in Europe as cases surge. Picture: Sam Panthaky/AFP

“But to put the maximum chances on our side, we must continue to immunise the planet urgently, especially in countries where access to doses is more complicated.”

Around 73 per cent of French residents are fully vaccinated.

Europe’s grim milestones

Meanwhile, more than 4.9 million coronavirus cases were detected over the past week across 52 European nations and territories, making it the continent’s worst week since the pandemic began.

Of those, 17 nations have broken new records for the most amount of cases in a seven-day period, with France’s current weekly total standing at more than one million and one in 25 people infected with Covid-19 in the hardest-hit areas of England.