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- Governments across Europe are implementing renewed restrictions as a resurgence of COVID-19 sweeps through the continent
- Over last week, more than 700,000 new cases of the virus have been reported in the region, taking confirmed cases to around seven million and daily deaths to more than 1000
- The majority of the new cases are arising in Spain, the UK, and France, which have collectively overtaken the U.S. in daily cases numbers
- Despite the resurgence, leaders across Europe are opting for locally-focused action surrounding case hotspots, alongside less stringent national measures
- By attempting a more localised response, European leaders are hoping to avoid the economic and societal impacts of nation-wide lockdowns
Governments across Europe are implementing renewed restrictions as a resurgence of COVID-19 sweeps through the continent.
Over last week, more than 700,000 new cases of the virus have been reported in Europe, taking confirmed cases in the region to around seven million and daily deaths to more than 1000.
Based on the current modelling, the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts Europe’s daily mortality rate could reach four or five times its previous peak in April.
The majority of the new cases are arising in Spain, the U.K., and France, which have collectively overtaken the U.S. in daily cases numbers.
Despite the resurgence leaders across Europe are opting for localised action surrounding case hotspots, alongside less stringent national measures, in an attempt to avoid the economic and societal impacts of country-wide lockdowns.
Toward that end, France has redeclared a state of emergency and is implementing a 9:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew in many of its major cities, after reaching a record 30,621 in daily new cases on Wednesday,
Similarly, Spain has also declared a state of emergency and has reimplemented restrictions in Madrid, which currently has an infection rate five times higher than the European average.
Meanwhile, the U.K. has also tightened its current protocols, prohibiting all individuals from socialising with other households.
In a recent statement on the region’s escalating cases, Dr Hans Henri Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, commented on the need for an immediate response.
“Measures are tightening up in many countries in Europe, and this is good because they are absolutely necessary,” he said.
Despite the need for heightened measures, the WHO Director noted that all government action much be balanced against its economic and societal fallout.
“These measures are meant to keep us all ahead of the curve and to flatten its course. They are there to save lives from COVID-19 without risking lives due to other diseases and because of economic despair,” he added.
