Covid-19: Parts of Madrid to lockdown amid virus spike

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• Coronavirus pandemic

Parts of the Spanish capital Madrid are to be subject to lockdown restrictions to curb a rise in Covid-19, as cases across Europe continue to spike.

From Monday, more than 850,000 people in the Madrid region will face limits on travel and sizes of groups.

Spain has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe, and Madrid is again the worst-hit region.

Many northern hemisphere countries are now bracing for a second wave of the pandemic as winter approaches.

France recorded its highest number of new confirmed daily cases since the pandemic began, at 13,215 – a jump of nearly 3,000 more cases in 24 hours. Several cities, including Marseille and Nice, are bringing in tighter restrictions.

The UK recorded 4,322 new cases and 27 deaths on Friday – its highest number of cases since 8 May, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned a second wave was now "inevitable". Large parts of the north of England are now subject to great lockdown measures.

Elsewhere in Europe:

• Indoor restaurant dining is to be banned in the Irish capital Dublin, and all non-essential travel discouraged, after a surge in recent cases.
• Denmark is lowering public gathering numbers from 100 to 50 and ordering bars and restaurants to close early
• Entertainment venues and pubs in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik have been ordered to close over the weekend.

What's happening in Madrid?

Spain now has 625,651 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University and rates of infection in the Madrid region are more than double the national average, the Spanish government says.

From Monday, 37 of the worst hit health districts in the region will be subject to lockdown restrictions.

Residents will only be able to leave their zone to go to work, school or to seek medical care. Social gatherings will be limited to six, public parks will be closed and commercial businesses will need to close by 22:00.

"There are 37 basic areas where the incidence is very high, over 1,000 for every 100,000 people in the last 14 days, " said Madrid regional government chief Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

"These areas have particularly high population density and connectivity. We neeRead More – Source

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