Europe fights back as second wave breaks
Spain and France lead the resurgence as Sweden and Germany buck the trend, writes Verity Bowman
THE resurgence of coronavirus in Europe has left governments with a major headache.
The rules they began to relax in the summer appear to have led to a new surge in infections.
So, do they stick firmly and trust people to follow social distancing rules? Or is it time to introduce new measures like the UK’s “rule of six?”
National lockdowns have largely been ruled out – for now. But policy changes limiting gatherings, mandatory mask wearing, as well as sharp curbs on restaurants and bars, are gathering pace.
Spain
Bi-weekly change in cases: +35 per cent Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 263.2
Spain is battling the most serious second spike on the continent, detecting around 10,000 new cases per day and with an average positivity rate from testing of 12 per cent.
Restrictive measures have been reintroduced, including localised lockdowns and a curfew for nightlife.
Madrid is the region of greatest concern with transmission more than double the national average. From Sept 7, the city began limiting gatherings to 10 people.
France
Bi-weekly change in cases:
+87 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 135.1 The French government held its nerve on Friday and avoided fresh draconian restrictions on a par with Britain. The prime minister has put the onus for new restrictions on local authorities.
Marseille, Bordeaux and the overseas département of Guadeloupe, are all of deep concern and may impose stricter rules next week, Jean Castex said. Meanwhile, a further 2,000 people will be recruited for the country’s track and trace system, whilst the mandatory self-isolation period will be reduced from 14 to seven days.
Switzerland
Bi-weekly change in cases:
+31 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 54.3 Switzerland appears to be taking France’s infection rate more seriously. It too has seen a steady rise in cases, which on Friday topped 500 for the first time since April. On that day, the country said it was imposing a 10-day quarantine on most of France – nine out of 13 regions including the Paris area, as well as Vienna in neighbouring Austria.
Despite the regional restrictions, Switzerland has exempted the border regions in France and other neighbouring countries from the new quarantine order, which will take effect from tomorrow.
Austria
Bi-weekly change in cases:
+45 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 55.9 Austria reimposed its face mask requirement in shops, transport and schools this week. Private gatherings have been limited to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors, but professional events for 1,500 indoors and 3,000 outside. Bi-weekly change in cases:
-18 per cent Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 54 Cases were more than doubling every fortnight at the back end of July, but the caseload for September is falling. At the end of July, Belgium announced the number of people allowed in each household’s social bubble decreased from 15 to five.
The number of people allowed to attend indoor and outdoor events halved, reduced to 100 and 200 respectively. Bi-weekly change in cases:
+74 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 51.3 Friday’s 687 confirmed positive cases in one day was the worst since the first wave on April 16.
From Tuesday, gatherings will be limited to 10 people. Restricted opening and capacities will be placed on many kinds of establishments. Bi-weekly change in cases: +63 per cent. Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 35.7 Denmark’s leading intensive care doctor warned on Friday that a new round of lockdown restrictions might soon be necessary. Gatherings of more than 50 were banned in Copenhagen this week, and employees in the public sector were ordered to start working from home rather than the office. Elsewhere, gatherings of people are limited to 100.
Germany
Bi-weekly change in cases:
+0.4 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 21 New infections began to rise sharply in August, peaking at 2,034, but since then the curve has flattened again.
Talks to agree a nationwide limit of 25 people for private gatherings failed last month, and each region still imposes its own limit, ranging from 10 in Lower Saxony to 1,000 in Berlin.
Quarantines for holidaymakers returning from hotspots over the summer was avoided with compulsory tests at airports, railway stations and borders. But the scheme is to be discontinued at the end of September.
Sweden
Bi-weekly change in cases:
-27 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 24 Sweden this week saw the number of cases rise for the first time since midAugust, something Anders Tegnell, a state epidemiologist, attributed partly to a sharp increase in testing.
The nation has taken a relaxed approach compared to much of Europe during the pandemic, and is unlikely to see many restrictions introduced as a result. At the start of the month, Mr Tegnell said that the over-70s could soon stop self-isolating.
Italy
Bi-weekly change in cases:
+64 per cent
Bi-weekly cases per 100,000: 32
On Thursday, there were 1,597 new cases and 10 deaths. The day before, 1,434 new cases were registered.
There have been no moves to tighten the rules, however.
The northern region of Lombardy, which includes Milan, remains the hardest hit.
Between 6pm and 6am people are required to wear masks if they are in big gatherings.