Following surge in coronavirus cases, European countries impose strict new restrictions


New coronavirus restrictions are being implemented across Europe, due to a rising tide of infections in all corners of the continent.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said the infection rate "has been increasing for 77 days," and last week, more than 700,000 new cases were reported, a 36 percent weekly increase, NPR reports. With an average of 100,000 cases being reported daily, Europe is seeing its highest coronavirus numbers ever.
On Wednesday night, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that starting Saturday, Paris and eight other "health emergency zones" will have nightly curfews, and violators will face steep fines. Italy reported more than 7,300 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the country's largest one-day total, and the government will soon limit sporting events, school activities, and other gatherings.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Czech Republic has the highest number of infections per capita in Europe, and on Wednesday, all schools were closed and now bars and restaurants can only offer takeout, before closing at 8 p.m. All nonessential medical procedures have also been canceled. For the next 15 days in Catalonia, all bars and restaurants can only offer food and drinks to go, and there will be limits on how many people can enter malls, gyms, and theaters. Catalan Vice President Pere Aragonés called the coronavirus statistics "very worrying," and said these strict measures must be done to "avoid a lockdown in coming weeks."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
May 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include how much to pay for a pardon, medical advice from a brain worm, and a simple solution to the national debt.
-
5 costly cartoons about the national debt
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on the USA's financial hole, rare bipartisan agreement, and Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
-
Green goddess salad recipe
The Week Recommends Avocado can be the creamy star of the show in this fresh, sharp salad
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
Trump seeks to cut drug prices via executive order
speed read The president's order tells pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, but it will likely be thrown out by the courts
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measles
Speed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia
-
Measles outbreak spreads, as does RFK Jr.'s influence
Speed Read The outbreak centered in Texas has grown to at least three states and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting unproven treatments
-
RFK Jr. offers alternative remedies as measles spreads
Speed Read Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes unsupported claims about containing the spread as vaccine skepticism grows