National lockdowns helped to contain the pandemic in European countries, but infection rates are now rapidly rising after the restrictions were lifted. Now countries are opting for more localised measures, but health experts have said they fear it may not be enough to stop the trend.
The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said it is concerned with a group of 13 European countries, including France and Britain, classifying them in a category of "high concern" based on the growing number of COVID-19 cases.
The centre noted in its : "The vulnerability of the population to infection remains high as available data from seroprevalence studies suggest that the level of immunity in the population is less than 15 percent in most areas within the EU/EEA and the UK".
European Union Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides urged member states to act immediately to prevent a second wave.
"In some member states, the situation is now even worse than during the peak in March. This is a real cause for concern," she said.
"What we are seeing in many countries is, not only in Spain, that a lot of the transmission that's ongoing right now is due to private meetings, big family dinners, weddings, all get-togethers that you have with your with your friends and family."
Here is how European countries are responding to the new surge in cases, after the first coronavirus wave between March and April:
The UK
After recently emerging from a three-month nationwide lockdown, pubs are now being forced to close one hour earlier at 10pm, under new curfew rules.
The changes came into effect this week across England and Scotland. Northern Ireland is considering what course of action to take after premises serving only alcohol re-opened on Tuesday.
Scotland is banning visits between people from different households.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also urged residents to work from home as medical advisers warn of a rise in cases come mid-October of up to 50,000 a day, if no action is taken.
The UK reported its highest single-day figure since the pandemic began, with 6,634 new cases on Thursday.
Mr Johnson said the new restrictions could be in place for up to six months, adding that the military will be deployed to help enforce the new rules.
Other measures include an increased fine to £200 on the first offence for breaching the rules on either mandatory mask-wearing or the gathering limit of six.
From Wednesday, a new rule came into effect requiring taxi drivers and passengers to wear face masks.
From 28 September, attendees at weddings and civil partnerships will be limited to 15 people, reduced from 30.
Funerals will be limited to 30 people.
Britain has recorded the worst death toll in Europe of almost 42,000 deaths.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Britain is seeing fewer new cases as a proportion of its population than countries like Spain, France and Belgium, but more than Germany and Italy.
France
From Saturday, all restaurants, bars and gyms in Marseille will close for at least a fortnight.
The country broke its previous daily COVID-19 record of 13,498 four times this week. On Thursday, 16,096 cases were recorded.
Marseille Mayor Michele Rubirola condemned the new restrictions.
"There is nothing in the public health situation that justifies this move," she wrote in a statement on Twitter.
Angry restaurant and bar owners demonstrate, one with a placard reading "Save cafes and restaurants" in Marseille, southern France. Source: AAP
In Paris and 10 other cities, restaurants and bars will be forced to close at 10pm daily from Monday.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she has lodged a formal protest over the measures, particularly over the closure of gyms and other indoor sports facilities.
"How will the fact that we can no longer exercise help us, while sport is an important part of keeping us healthy with strong immune systems," she asked.
The French Open tennis tournament, which begins next week, will need to comply with a new restriction on sporting events of mass gatherings of only 1,000 people - including athletes, staff and fans.
Hospitals in Paris have seen COVID-19 patient numbers more than double in three weeks, from 150 to 330.
The deputy director of the city's hospital authority AP-HP, Francois Cremieux, said he is expecting numbers to reach 600 by the end of the month.
In the last week, France's COVID-19 death toll has averaged about 50 daily, with hospital admissions reaching close to 600 daily.
In total, France has reported in excess of 536,000 cases and 31,500 deaths.
Italy
Italy was the first country in Europe to impose a national lockdown, which involved sealing off villages and hospitals to contain outbreaks. But the three-month national lockdown, which ended in June, came with a price, forcing the country's economy to contract by 8 per cent in 2020, according to government forecasts.
Officials have yet to re-introduce restrictions, although Italy's Health Minister, Roberto Speranza, announced mandatory testing for those returning to Italy from virus hotspots in France, such as Paris.
Professor Luca Richeldi, Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Modena, said residents are still choosing to wear masks even after the end of the lockdown.
Medieval 'wine windows' have reopened in Firenze to serve wine, gelato and others to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Source: AAP
In testimony before the all-party parliamentary group on Wednesday, Professor Richeldi said the impact of seeing so many elderly loved ones die has left a scarring impact.
"The average age of people dying was 80 years old. That part of the Italian family is a very crucial part. I can tell you that for families not being able to be close to their loved ones the moment they die is something of a shock emotionally."
Italian President Sergio Mattarella rejected remarks by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that sought to explain the higher case numbers in Britain compared to Italy or Germany by describing Britain as a "freedom-loving country".
Mr Mattarella said: "We Italians also love freedom, but we also care about seriousness".
On Thursday, Italy added 1,786 COVID-19 cases to its overall tally of beyond 304,300. The death toll increased by 23 on Thursday to 35,781.
Spain
Spain lifted its three-month state of emergency on 21 June. At the time the country was recording between 100 to 150 cases of COVID-19 a day.
Since then the country's daily case numbers has been increasing rapidly. On Thursday, Spain added 10,600 new COVID-19 cases to its overall tally of 704,209. The death toll of 31,118, includes 84 deaths recorded on Thursday.
Madrid accounts for about a third of the country's case load and death toll.
The capital is struggling to contain outbreaks that have spread in working-class areas where residents live in high-density housing.
Officials said they are considering implementing a local state of emergency.
Mass gatherings are limited to six people and parks are shut. More than 850,000 residents were forced to stay in their neighbourhood under lockdown this week.
Residents in the 37 affected zones around Madrid were not allowed to move outside of their localities unless they met the exemptions for work, education, legal obligations, medical reasons.
Officials have previously condemned the behaviour of young people attending parties and drinking in the streets, after statistics showed the majority of the community transmission is occurring among young people. 75 per cent of the COVID-19 cases involve people who are asymptomatic.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Additional reporting: AFP, Reuters.
