A second wave of coronavirus has struck Europe as Spain reimposes lockdowns, cases spike in Greece and French officials warn they could lose control at any moment.
The head of Germany’s doctors’ union has said that the country is already in the midst of its second wave because people had flouted social distancing rules.
France’s top scientific committee has warned that while the virus is under control at the moment, it ‘could at any moment tip into a scenario that is less under control.’
And holiday destinations such as Spain, Greece and Italy, which have bravely welcomed the tourists so vital to their economies, are also fearing resurgences as the global death toll today soared over 700,000.
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Biweekly change in confirmed COVID-19 cases. The biweekly growth rate on any given date measures the percentage change in the number of new confirmed cases over the last 14 days relative to the number in the previous 14 days. (source: Our World in Data, European CDC)
People wearing protective face masks walk at the Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris as France reinforces mask-wearing as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across the country, August 3, 2020
A woman asks a health worker about the voluntary testing for covid-19 that is taking place in Ripollet, Barcelona, Spain, 05 August 2020
Greece recorded 121 new cases on Tuesday, which is the highest daily tally since April 22, and the prime minister urged the country to maintain social distancing.
Italy – once the sickman of Europe – has managed to avoid an uptick, but two cruise ships are now quarantined in the Civitavecchia port in Rome.
Spain saw 8,500 new cases over the weekend; an all-inclusive resort in Majorca was shutdown and two towns north of Madrid have been put under strict lockdown.
In France, the Health Ministry published a worrying report from the country’s scientific committee after more than 7,000 new infections were recorded in the last week
It said that the situation was ‘under control, but precarious. We could at any moment tip into a scenario that is less under control.’
The warning came as authorities grapple with a sharp increase in fresh cases which has seen more than 7,000 new infections within the last week as well as a rise in the number of people being treated for the disease in intensive care.
The scientific committee said: ‘The short term future of the pandemic mainly lies in the hands of the population. It is highly likely that we will experience a second epidemic wave this autumn or winter.’
The statement added that the virus ‘has recently been circulating more actively, with an increased loss of distancing and barrier measures’ since France emerged from its strict two-month lockdown in May.
‘The balance is fragile and we can change course at any time to a less controlled scenario like in Spain for example,’ it said.
The warning came as authorities grapple with a sharp increase in fresh cases which has seen more than 7,000 new infections within the last week (graphic showing growing number of daily coronavirus cases in France)
The country also reported 29 new coronavirus-related deaths which takes the confirmed total to 30,265 since the pandemic began – one of Europe’s highest death tolls (graphic showing growing number of daily coronavirus deaths in France)
Several French cities have now toughened their face mask rules and made it mandatory to wear outdoors in busy areas of cities such as Lille, Nice and Biarritz (pictured)
In Germany, Susanne Johna, head of the doctors’ union, told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Tuesday: ‘We are already in a second, shallow upswing.’
She said there was a danger that a longing to return to normality and a suppression of containment measures would fritter away the success Germany had achieved so far, urging people to stick to social distancing and hygiene rules and wear masks.
Europe’s biggest economy has so far withstood the pandemic with far fewer deaths than some large neighbours like France and Italy, owing to widespread testing, a well-equipped healthcare system and good adherence to social distancing.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 879 to 211,281, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday. The reported death toll rose by eight to 9,156, the tally showed.
Johna said hospitals were prepared and would make intensive care beds available to COVID-19 patients on a staggered basis, while at the same time gradually reducing the number of planned admissions to normal wards.
According to the DIVI intensive care register there are almost 21,000 intensive care beds in Germany, of which some 12,200 are currently free. As of Monday, there were 270 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, of whom 130 were being ventilated.
A survey of 3,600 people carried out by Mannheim University found that pandemic fatigue was beginning to take hold, and roughly 50 per cent of those involved now socialise several times a week, in comparison with 30 per cent in May and just 10 per cent in late March.
On Saturday, just under 20,000 people gathered in Berlin to protest against Germany’s coronavirus regulations.
Many flouted guidance on wearing masks and physical distancing during the demonstration dubbed ‘Day of Freedom’.
On Saturday, just under 20,000 people gathered in Berlin to protest against Germany’s coronavirus regulations
The number of daily confirmed coronavirus cases has ticked up steadily in recent weeks
In Spain, a hotel in Majorca on Sunday became the first on the holiday island to close after an outbreak of coronavirus saw ten staff fall sick.
The Club Cala Barca is not accepting any new bookings and closed its doors for disinfection over the weekend after the last guests left.
The outbreak was first detected last week when a worker fell ill, and 192 more tests uncovered another nine infections among staff and four more among their relatives.
Bosses say no guests are showing symptoms and they do not have any plans to test visitors, since all staff are required to socially distance.
It comes as Spain announced 8,500 new coronavirus cases across the country at the weekend – its largest jump in three months – bringing its total to 297,054.
Spain is the worst-hit, with many of its neighbours including Italy, Germany and the UK, recommending against travelling there.
Elsewhere in Spain, two towns are back in lockdown after a coronavirus outbreak at a poultry farm left 49 workers infected.
Around 10,000 people living in Iscar and Pedrajas, 80 miles north of Madrid, were told to remain in their homes for all-but essential business, starting this week.
The Club Cala Barca hotel, in Mallorca, has been forced to close after an outbreak of the virus saw 10 staff infected along with four of their relatives
Extra police and a helicopter have been drafted in to stop people leaving their homes for non-essential business.
Rule-breakers will face on-the-spot fines as mayors of both towns accused people of not taking advice seriously, including failing to wear masks and socially distance.
The outbreak started after a worker at a local slaughterhouse fell ill and was tested positive.
Trackers traced numerous contacts, including other workers who had travelled in the same car, family members and friends and other people with whom they had mixed.
So far, 22 of the 49 positives work at the slaughterhouse.
The new lockdown will remain in place for 14 days, during which time nobody will be allowed to leave the towns but will be allowed to travel between them.
Meanwhile in Lleida, 80 miles west of Barcelona, a business has been forcibly closed after inspectors discovered 19 staff were still working despite having the virus.
Owners of the business had initially refused to comply with regulations meaning staff had to be tested.
They eventually agreed, but insisted that only staff who volunteered for the tests should have them. Ninety people took the tests, and 38 tested positive.
When inspectors returned for a follow-up six days later, they found that 19 people were still at work, despite the positive test result.
Officials did not name the affected business, or say what work the staff were doing.