Latest world news for September 28
Several European countries, in the throes of a second wave of the pandemic, are witnessing a rise in virus cases, deaths and restrictions. Here’s Monday’s latest:
Belgium: New rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the Belgian capital, Brussels, come into force today. The city’s mayor announced the restrictions on Sunday after Brussels recorded 2,353 infections over seven days and an incidence of 327.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days.
From today, bars, cafes and restaurants will close at 11 p.m.; gatherings of more than 10 people in public spaces is banned from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.; and food consumption is prohibited in markets.
From Thursday, it will be compulsory to wear a mask in heavily frequented commercial areas and catering premises, carrying a face mask will be obligatory, and mask wearing will be mandated when entering or leaving schools.
Germany: A rise in infections “worries us greatly,” said German government spokesman Steffen Seibert.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet with the leaders of Germany’s federal states on Tuesday, Seibert said, adding that a possible “traffic light” virus warning scheme would be part of the discussion.
The country saw an increase of 1,192 infections on Sunday and three deaths, according to the disease control and prevention federal agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). At least 285,332 people in Germany have registered as infected since the pandemic started, and there have been 9,460 deaths, according to RKI.
France: Coronavirus admissions at intensive care units in the Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur region — which includes France’s second biggest city of Marseille — have tripled since the beginning of September, according to official statistics.
Bars and restaurants closed for seven days in the Marseille area, starting Sunday night, due to the deteriorating situation there.
England: Households in England’s northeast will be banned from mixing indoors under new legislation, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Parliament on Monday.
He said at the request of local councils legislation will be introduced to ban “indoor mixing between households in any setting.” The changes will apply to parts of the country’s northeast where local action was brought in two weeks ago, Hancock explained.
It comes as the UK government reported at least 4,044 new Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths from the virus in the latest 24-hour period on Monday. However, figures typically lag following the weekend. On Monday, a legal duty to self-isolate if people test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace came into force in England.
