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Germany and France prepare new lockdowns as COVID sweeps Europe

News Service
14:02 - 28/10/2020 Wednesday
Update: 14:04 - 28/10/2020 Wednesday
REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A health worker, wearing a protective suit and a face mask, prepares to administer a nasal swab to a patient at a testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) installed in front of the city hall in Paris, France, September 2, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A health worker, wearing a protective suit and a face mask, prepares to administer a nasal swab to a patient at a testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) installed in front of the city hall in Paris, France, September 2, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo

VACCINE HOPES DENTED

The latest figures from the World Health Organization on Tuesday showed Europe reported 1.3 million new cases in the past seven days, nearly half the 2.9 million reported worldwide, with over 11,700 deaths, a 37% jump over the previous week.

The United States, which saw more than 500,000 cases over the past week, has seen record daily infections and, while many countries in Asia have largely brought the disease under control, China reported 42 new cases on Tuesday, its highest daily toll in more than two months.

The virus was first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year.

Hopes that new treatments might curb the spread were dealt a blow when the head of Britain's vaccine procurement task force warned that an effective vaccine may never be developed and that early versions were likely to be imperfect.

While surveys in several countries show many want strict controls to halt the spread of the disease, the broad climate of public support for governments seen in the first wave of the pandemic has increasingly evaporated.

Governments across the region have been under fire for lack of coordination and for failing to use a lull in cases over the summer to bolster defences, leaving hospitals unprepared and forcing people on to packed public transport to get to work.

Italy, which pledged more than 5 billion euros ($5.9 billion) in new support measures for businesses hit by the latest restrictions, has seen repeated clashes between police and protesters in cities from Naples to Turin as well as bitter criticism from restaurant owners and business groups.

As similar measures are imposed elsewhere, business groups have sounded the alarm.

Germany's BGA, a lobby group for the services sector, said restaurant closures would inflict a "death blow" on many businesses and called instead for tighter measures to restrict contagion in people's homes.

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3 years ago