Covid-19: European countries are stepping up measures in the face of the second wave of the epidemic

Motorists line up to be tested for Covid-19 at San Paolo Hospital in Milan on October 15, 2020. AP Photo / Luca Bruno

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4 min

Once again hard hit by the Covid-19 epidemic, many European countries have put in place new restrictions, including re-containments and curfews.

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All of Europe is now swept away by the second wave of Covid-19.

In Wales, one of the four nations of the United Kingdom, a "firewall" is in place with the establishment of a two-week confinement as in March.

From 6 p.m. Friday, the British province's more than three million residents will be asked to " 

stay at home, 

" Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford told a press conference, adding that the duration of the this "firewall" is the shortest that can be introduced to be effective.

Slovenia will implement a curfew as of Tuesday.

The two million inhabitants of this member country of the European Union will not be allowed to go out between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Gatherings will also be limited to 6 people against 10 previously and all travel between the 12 regions of the country banned.

In Belgium, cafes and restaurants are now closed for four weeks and a curfew between Monday in force from midnight to 5:00 am to stem the " 

skyrocket

 " of the epidemic.

The Austrians are called upon to " 

do everything to prevent a second confinement

 ".

Screw tower in Italy

Italy, the European country most affected by the first wave with 414,000 cases and 36,500 deaths, has passed the milestone of 10,000 new cases per day.

The government

therefore decided to impose strict measures.

 Officials are switching to telecommuting to ease public transport, all local festivals and fairs are canceled and mayors may decide to impose curfews at 9 p.m. to prevent the outbreak of cases.

As for Italians who do not wear masks in public spaces, they risk a fine of 1,000 euros. 

With more than 8,000 deaths recorded in seven days, Europe, where the threshold of 250,000 deaths was crossed on Sunday, has seen its heaviest toll in a week since mid-May, leading many countries to multiply measures sanitary facilities.

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  • Coronavirus

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  • UK

  • Austria

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  • Slovenia

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