Europe, once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, has been hailed worldwide for its countries’ strict lockdowns and how they appeared to have beat back the virus’ damage—but months out from the initial rollbacks on coronavirus restrictions, many countries across the continent are reporting an increasing number of new cases, putting officials on edge for what’s next.
On Saturday, Ireland counted the highest number of new coronavirus cases (174) since May, a far cry from the average of 58 per day seen last week, and officials said they were mostly tied to Kildare, Laois and Offaly counties where coronavirus crackdowns were put back into place Friday to prevent further resurgence.
A rise in local infections pushed Parisian officials to announce a new face mask order Saturday, directing people older than 11 years old to cover their face while in many of Paris’ crowded public spaces from Monday.
On Wednesday, France as a whole counted 1,695 new daily cases, a two-month high and the most diagnosed since the country reeled back their lockdown.
Spain on Friday became the country with the most total confirmed coronavirus cases in Western Europe after a recent spike was enough to push it past the United Kingdom’s total infection count, though Spain was largely believed to have pushed past the worst of their outbreak with a strict lockdown in spring.
Germany counted 1,045 new infections on Thursday, the first time the daily number of cases has hit a four-digit figure in three months.
Italy too is hitting daily totals not seen for months, having counted 552 confirmed cases Friday after reporting only about 200 each day just several weeks ago, Associated Press reported.
European countries that saw massive drops in new infections and coronavirus deaths after strict lockdowns in spring are beginning to report new, slight upticks in cases that have encouraged officials to consider implementing social distancing guidelines again. Many of the new outbreaks have been linked to young people going to parties. However, while European officials are concerned over the new clusters, the new daily totals are nothing compared to those seen in battered countries like the United States and Brazil, the world’s worst-hit countries that are reporting thousands of new cases per day.
Ireland reports highest number of new COVID-19 cases since early May (Reuters)
Paris makes masks compulsory in busy outdoor areas as virus flares up (Reuters)
Spain Tops U.K. In Coronavirus Cases Amid New Outbreaks (Forbes)
Germany will test all arrivals from ‘risky’ countries like the US as daily new cases top 1,000 for the first time in 3 months (Business Insider)
Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
I am a Texas native covering breaking news out of New York City. Previously, I was a Forbes intern in London. I am an alum of City, University of London and Texas State
I am a Texas native covering breaking news out of New York City. Previously, I was a Forbes intern in London. I am an alum of City, University of London and Texas State University.