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A third wave of the Covid pandemic is now progressing rapidly across much of Europe. As a result, many countries – bogged down by slow vaccination campaigns – are witnessing sharp increases in infection rates and the number of cases.
The infection rate in the EU is now at its highest level since early February, with the spread of new variants of the Covid-19 virus causing much of the recent increase.
Several countries are now poised to impose tough new lockdowns in the coming days – unlike the UK, which is slowly starting to come out of its current episode of store and school closings and sports bans.
In Italy, authorities recorded more than 27,000 new cases and 380 deaths on Friday. “More than a year after the start of the health emergency, we are unfortunately facing a new wave of infections,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said. “The memory of what happened last spring is alive and we will do everything to prevent it from happening again.”
From Monday, most of Italy will be locked up and people will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential shopping. Most shops will be closed, as well as bars and restaurants.
In France, authorities have reported a similar grim situation, with Health Minister Olivier Véran describing the situation in the Paris region as tense and worrying. “Every 12 minutes night and day, a Parisian is admitted to an intensive care bed,” he revealed.
President Macron has imposed curfews and other social restrictions in several regions, and many doctors are now urging him to urgently introduce a national lockdown.
In Germany, 12,674 new Covid infections were reported on Saturday, an increase of 3,117 from the previous week, as the head of the country’s infectious disease agency admitted the country was now in the grip of a third wave of Covid-19.
Likewise in Poland, 17,260 new daily cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday, the highest daily figure since November. New pandemic restrictions are expected to be announced this week, government officials said. Poland has already placed strict restrictions on social gatherings, most schools are closed, and restaurants can only serve meals for delivery.
Additionally, Hungary and the Czech Republic have reported high infection rates and deaths from Covid, and health officials have warned the numbers could worsen in the coming weeks.
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