Virus caseload surges past 30 million

Coronavirus infections have topped 30 million as the the World Health Organisation warns of ‘alarming rates of transmission’.

Israeli youths protest in Tel Aviv against an imminent and unprecedented second nationwide lockdown to tackle a spike in the coronavirus. Picture: AFP

Large parts of Europe­ ­are gearing up for broad new restrictions to stop the coronavirus, after infections worldwide topped 30 million and the World Health Organisation warned of “alarming rates of transmission”.

Britain is limiting gatherings and France is set to roll out new curbs for major cities as governments across the continent battle fresh spikes of the disease.

More than 944,600 people have now died from COVID-19 since it first emerged in China late last year, with Europe accounting for more than 200,000.

WHO regional director for Europe­ Hans Kluge said a surge this month “should serve as a wake-up call” after the continent recorded 54,000 infections in a single day last week, a new record.

“Although the numbers reflect more comprehensive testing, it also shows alarming rates of transmission across the region,” Mr Kluge said from Copenhagen.

The Spanish capital, Madrid, said it had been overwhelmed by the virus and called for “decisive” action from the central government, which is set to unveil a raft of new restrictions on Friday.

 

Madrid officials warned that the region’s healthcare system was coming under increasing pressure, with one in five hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients amid a second wave of the illness.

Anxiety has been growing in the city about the prospect of a return­ to lockdown after a top regional­ health official raised the possibility on Wednesday for the worst-hit areas.

“It would be bad for shops, for small businesses and little bars that survive on people coming in,” said 55-year-old Maribel Quesada.

“People are really sick of being at home, the (spring) lockdown was very difficult.”

In Britain, new curbs were to take effect on Friday, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning that pubs may have to close earlier to help avoid a “second hump” of infections.

About two million people in northeast England, including in the cities of Newcastle and Sunderland, will no longer be allowed to meet people outside their homes. Only table service will be allowed in bars and entertainment venues will have to close by 10pm.

The government had already imposed rules across England on Monday limiting socialising to groups of six or fewer, as daily cases reached levels not seen since early May.

French authorities were also preparing tighter restrictions in several cities to curtail a resurg­ence that has seen nearly 10,000 new cases per day in the past week.

 

Health Minister Olivier Veran said Lyon and Nice would be under new rules by Saturday, after curbs on public gatherings were imposed this week in Bordeaux and Marseilles.

Israel became the first developed country in the world to enforce a second nationwide shutdown­, from Friday. The move sparked protests in Tel Aviv late on Thursday when hundreds took to the streets against the restrictions­, taking effect­ just hours before Jewish New Year and which will cover other religious holidays, including Yom Kippur.

“The economy is in freefall, people are losing their jobs, they’re depressed,” said 60-year-old Yael.

“And all this for what? For nothing!”

Under its new measures, residents will be limited to within 500m of their home.

As anger grows over how authorities worldwide have responded to the virus, some governments are facing legal action from citizens for alleged failures.

A French association of COVID-19 victims plans to file a legal complaint against Prime Minister Jean Castex.

Suits have also been filed in China by bereaved relatives but many have had them abruptly rejected, while dozens of others face pressure from authorities not to file, according to people involved.

AFP