August 20, 2020
Having seen the highest number of coronavirus infections since Spring, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain raise concerns that a second wave could be hitting the Continent.
Germany has documented 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, while consultants in France say ‘the transmission of the virus is accentuating.’ Spain has recorded a new single-day record for Covid-19 cases since the country arose from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.
Germany has managed better than many European neighbors in overwhelming the virus so far, but like elsewhere, the number of cases has jumped expressively over the summer holidays.
Much of the increase has been liable on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings.
The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, convey to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. It took the daily toll back to a level not seen since late April when the epidemic was deliberated at its peak.
The daily record of new cases in Germany is just over 6,000 registered in early April. And ten further deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, conveying the total to 9,253.
Faced with an outpour in cases, Germany announced free, mandatory tests for anyone returning from areas believed to be at high risk for COVID-19 infections earlier this month.
Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Tuesday there could be no further easing of coronavirus restrictions. She advised Germans to follow the rules on hygiene safety measures and prompted travelers returning from risk areas that quarantine was not an option ‘but a must’ so long as they could not show a negative test.
However, various experts have said that the jump in the infection toll could be clarified by a sharp rise in the number of tests being conducted in the country.
France recorded more than 3,700 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours.
Health authorities say that’s 1,500 more than the previous day. The number of hospitalized and in ICUs was somewhat down. But health specialists say ‘the transmission of the virus is accentuating’ among all age groups, particularly young adults
President Emmanuel Macron noted that ‘we can’t bring the country to a halt.’ But he’d deliberate ‘targeted confinement if the situation calls for it.’
French officials have confirmed nearly 30,500 deaths from COVID-19, seventh highest in the world.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Italy recorded the sharpest upsurge in coronavirus cases since late May, the health ministry said, after 642 new coronavirus infections were reported in 24 hours.
The total number of Italian cases recorded since the start of the pandemic is 255,278, while the death toll stays at 35,412.
Spain’s Health Ministry declares 3,715 coronavirus infections have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours, a new one-day record since the country arose from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.
Spain tops the European chart of the maximum cumulative occurrence with 136 cases per 100,000 populations for the past two weeks. It’s one of the first displays closely monitored by epidemiologists.
New regulations, containing hours of nightlife and close outdoor smoking, took effect last Thursday in the Spanish capital.
The country added 127 deaths to reach nearly 28,800 confirmed victims. Nonetheless, the number doesn’t count those who suffered from the coronavirus but then weren’t tested.
In eastern Europe, Ukraine recently reported a record daily increase in coronavirus infections, exceeding 2,000 new cases for the first time.
Health authorities recorded 2,134 new infections in the past 24 hours, bringing Ukraine’s total to 98,537.
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