Coronavirus: Europe battles soaring caseload of infections

Millions of Europeans faced tough new coronavirus restrictions as governments stepped up efforts to slow the surge in infections.

A near deserted platform on the Paris metro on Saturday. Picture: AFP

Millions of Europeans faced tough new coronavirus restrictions on Sunday as governments stepped up efforts to slow the surge in infections, after the World Health Organisation reported a “very concerning” 44 per cent rise in European cases over one week.

From Saturday night, Paris and several other French cities went under a night-time curfew that will last at least a month. England is banning mixed household gatherings in the capital and other areas, and Italy’s most populous region is limiting bar openings and suspending sports events.

The need for action in France was underlined as the country recorded another record for new cases, with more than 32,000 registered in 24 hours.

Global cases of the disease, which has killed more than 1.1 million people around the world, have been soaring beyond levels seen in the first wave earlier this year, when many countries resorted to national lockdowns to get control of the crisis.

As well as the death toll, the pandemic has wrought social and economic havoc across the world.

The US, which has suffered the worst toll with more than 218,000 fatalities, on Friday revealed a record deficit of $3.1 trillion in the fiscal year ended September 30.

It also announced that the number of cases there had passed eight million, while global daily infections also hit a record.

In a bid to stem the worrying rise in infections and in the hope of heading off a return to full lockdowns, many governments have tightened measures to control the spread of the pandemic — even if some dissenters are fighting back in the courts.

About 20 million people in the Paris region and eight other French cities were facing a 9pm- 6am curfew from Saturday after cases surged in what has once again become one of Europe’s major hotpots.

Britain is the hardest-hit country in Europe, with over 43,000 deaths from almost 700,000 cases.

But as the government there ramped up restrictions, banning indoor meetings between members of different households in London and several other English cities, there was growing criticism. Under the new measures, about 28 million people — half of England’s population — are now subject to tight social restrictions.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to stay at home whenever possible after 7830 cases emerged over 24 hours.

AFP