Spain, France, Italy and Germany record highest number of coronavirus cases since lockdown as each sees U-shape rise
SPAIN, France, Germany and Italy are seeing u-shape trends as all four countries recorded their largest increase in daily coronavirus infections since lockdown ended.
Coronavirus cases increased by over 3,300 in France and 3,700 in Spain, while infections rose by 1,500 in Germany and 845 in Italy respectively.
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Germany's infectious diseases agency described the trend as "very concerning".
North Rhine Westphalia is the worst affected state, having recorded 55,375 cases since the start of the pandemic.
The national R rate has been consistently above 1.0 since mid-July but it could be as high as 1.23.
Outbreaks are said to have continued in nursing homes and refugee facilities, but the average age of those infected has decreased over the past few weeks.
This has fallen to 34, the lowest on record.
Coronavirus had spread to all but 22 of Germany's 294 districts, it was reported earlier this week.
Germans have been advised to avoid public gatherings and to restrict celebrations with friends.
The German government issued a blanket warning on all travel to Spain.
In the past week, Spain has recorded 55 new infections for every 100,000 people, narrowly above the German government's risk threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 people.
The figure in the Balearics is 77 per 100,000.
Tens of thousands of Germans, including around 30,000 in the Balearics alone, will have to self-isolate when they return home if they cannot provide a negative test result.
Last month, a leading German virologist warned that the country has no chance of avoiding another wave of the virus.
Dr Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit warned that the country of around 83million is facing "drastic" measures if Germany's hospitals struggle to cope with a new influx of Covid-19 cases.
Germany is not the only country that has seen a rise in coronavirus cases.
Spain reported 3,715 new cases of the virus yesterday, bringing its total to over 387,000. It's feared that the daily number of infections could be over 6,600.
Madrid overtook Catalonia as the worst affected region in Spain, recording at least 97,000 infections since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the health ministry.
ITALY CASES RISE
There are also fresh fears of a resurgence in the virus in Italy after the country saw its largest rise in cases since the end of lockdown in May, with 845 new cases recorded.
Italy was one of the worst-hit countries in Europe at the beginning of the outbreak, but managed to bring the virus under control after months of lockdown.
Experts are now linking a new wave of cases to nightlife venues and holidaymakers.
Despite the rise in cases, the daily death figures remain low - with just six deaths in the past 24 hours and seven recorded on Wednesday.
The majority of Italy's new cases are concentrated in the northern Lombardy and Veneto regions, which were initially the epicentre of the outbreak in the country.
Both regions saw caseloads rise above 150 in the past 24 hours, health authorities confirmed.
Lazio, near Rome, registered 115 cases of which 73 per cent were linked Italians returning from other parts of the country or abroad, according to the regional government.
New measures have been introduced to stem the spread of the virus, including the closure of discos and nightclubs and introducing the compulsory wearing of face masks in outdoor spaces at night.
The Spanish government announced last Friday that face masks must be worn in public and smoking is banned when social distancing cannot be maintained in a bid to curb the spread of infections.
These measures have sparked anger and protests as well as conspiracy theories.
Thousands gathered in the streets of Madrid to protest about the compulsory wearing of masks, with some claiming the virus doesn't exist.
Pilar Martin, a 58-year-old housewife who travelled almost 200 miles to attend the protest, said: "They are forcing us to use a mask, they want us to stay home practically locked up.
"It's obvious that they are continuously tricking us with talk of outbreaks. It's all a lie."
Transmission of the virus in France is affecting all age groups, in particular young adults.
Cases among people aged between 25 and 35 have spiked in the country, prompting the decision to make masks compulsory in offices and enclosed work spaces from next month.
Last week the country recorded 16,546 new cases, compared to a rise of 11,251 the week before.
People returning from summer holidays will be required to cover their faces in all enclosed work spaces - including corridors and lobbies.
Masks are mandatory on public transport and in enclosed spaces such as shopping malls and government offices - but the government has left mask wearing up to the discretion of employers.
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It is not certain whether there will be a resurgence of Covid-19.
Margaret Harris of the World Health Organization said it was not helpful to use phrases such a "second wave" as governments continue to grapple with the virus.
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"People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and this one is behaving differently," she told a briefing in Geneva last month.
"It's going to be one big wave. It's going to go up and down a bit. The best thing to do is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet," she said.
