Countries battle virus surge with tighter lockdowns

Tighter restrictions aimed at reining in surging coronavirus infections took hold in much of Italy and parts of Poland on Monday, while in France, Paris risks being slapped with a weekend lockdown as ICUS near saturation with COVID- 19 patients.

In line with an Italian government decision late last week, 80% of schoolchildren, from nursery through high schools, were locked out of classroom starting on Monday. Ever- mounting numbers of ICU beds occupied by COVID- 19 patients, steadily rising daily caseloads and infection transmission predominantly driven by a virus variant first discovered in Britain have combined to make Italian Premier Mario Draghi’s new government apply “red zone” designation on more regions.

In red- zone regions, restaurants and cafes can do only takeout or delivery, nonessential shops are shuttered and residents must stick close to home, except for work, health or shopping for necessities. Over the weekend, many hair salons extended hours to handle last- minute customers, and crowds thronged shopping streets, parks and seaside promenades before the crackdown took effffffect.

Draghi on Friday promised an quick infusion of pandemic aid to shuttered businesses.

In Poland, amid a sharp spike in the number of new infections and of hospitalized COVID- 19 patients, restrictions were tightened in two more regions, including the capital, Warsaw, and a western province that borders Germany. Two other provinces were already under restrictions.

Under the heightened measures, hotels and shopping malls have to remain closed, as do theaters, cinemas, fitness clubs and sports facilities. Schoolchildren ages 6- 9 will have a combination of in- class and remote instruction.

An inexorable climb in the numbers of patients being treated in French hospital ICUS, particularly in the Paris region, is increasing pressure on the government of President Emmanuel Macron, whose government has been trying to stave off another punishing nationwide lockdown in 2021.

Expected to be decided in a few days is whether the Paris region and its 12 million inhabitants will be locked down on weekends.

Last week, countries in the Western Balkans announced a tightening of measures amid a surge in cases in Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro.

ALESSANDRA TARANTINO/ AP Half of Italy’s regions went into the strictest lockdown Monday in a bid to curb the latest spike in coronavirus infections that have brought COVID- 19 hospital admissions beyond manageable thresholds.