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Germany hit a record of more than 18,000 daily infections before the stricter measures take effect on Monday. France is heading for a second strict lockdown with residents largely confined to their homes.
Germany reported 18,681 new infections in the past 24 hours, the Robert Koch Institute, the public health agency responsible for disease control and prevention, reported on Friday.
The figure is the highest on record in Germany and is an increase since Thursday, when more than 16,000 new cases were recorded.
In response to the steady rise in infections, Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this week announced strict lockdown measures that will take effect on Monday for four weeks in a bid to slow the spread of the virus. During this period, restaurants, bars, sports and cultural venues will be closed and there will be limits for public and private gatherings.
Europe
As parts of Europe see an increase in COVID-19 cases and several countries return to partial lockdowns, the European Commission has agreed to make € 220 million available to help European Union member states with cross-border transfer. of patients.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday called on EU nations to improve cooperation in their responses to the pandemic, which has claimed more than 210,000 lives across the continent.
France: France’s 65 million inhabitants entered a second lockdown on Friday as daily infections surpassed 90,000. For the next month, people will be confined to a 1 kilometer area from their homes, requiring written permission to go outside, except to go shopping or attend school.
All non-essential businesses will be closed and people will be required to work from home if possible. Residents face a fine of 135 euros ($ 157) for violations.
UK: Another 2 million people are being subjected to the highest level of government restrictions to cope with the spread of COVID-19.
The West Yorkshire region of northern England will be subject to Level 3 restrictions from Monday, civic leaders said.
Most bars and some businesses will close and people will not be able to gather indoors with members of other households.
Asia
Japan: Coronavirus cases surpassed 100,000, nine months after the first case was found in mid-January, the Health Ministry said on Friday. The country hit this mark after confirming 808 new cases on Thursday.
The country was in a state of emergency in April and May and experienced a second less severe wave in August, but so far it has managed to avoid the “explosive” infections seen in Europe and the United States without enforcing the blockades. Some experts think this is partly due to the common use of masks and disinfectants.
Americas
Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday that it was “crazy” for countries to begin entering a lockdown again to control the second resurgence of the virus. Some parts of Latin America are reporting their biggest single-day increase in recent weeks.
The United States surpassed 90,000 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours for the first time on Thursday. The country, which is battling a resurgence of the COVID-19 outbreak, recorded 91,295 cases on Thursday.
The total case count in the US since the start of the pandemic is 8.94 million. More than 228,600 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, more than in any other country.
