France activates new emergency plan against covid-19 1:20
London (CNN) -
European countries, including Italy and the United Kingdom, are analyzing new strict measures to stop the spread of covid-19, as cases on the continent continue to rise.
Europe is mired in the second wave of coronavirus.
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More leaders are preparing to take drastic measures, likely to damage their economies, to contain a second wave of COVID-19.
This is following in the footsteps of nations such as France and Spain, which have been forced to tighten restrictions in major cities.
Italy awaits new rules against covid-19 in Europe
Italy, one of the most affected European countries during the first wave of the pandemic, is expected to impose new rules this week in the face of the rise of covid-19 in Europe.
This after Sunday saw the largest increase in coronavirus patients admitted to intensive care since March 31.
A government decree widely discussed in the Italian media could include:
a ban on consuming alcohol outside bars and shops
ban on private parties or a limit on the number of attendees
a ban on spectators at sporting events (currently 1,000 people allowed)
Mandatory masks for people practicing outdoor sports
Last Thursday, Italy introduced a rule that requires the use of masks outdoors and when in close contact with people who are not members of the household, with exceptions for young children, people with disabilities or pathologies that prevent the use of masks and when doing sports.
Anyone caught breaking the rule faces fines of between 400 and 1,000 euros ($ 470-1180).
The country reported a total of 420 people in intensive care units on Sunday, 30 more than the previous day, the highest increase since the end of March.
On Sunday a total of 5,456 new cases and 26 new deaths were registered, bringing the number of deaths from covid-19 in the country to 36,166.
UK braces for tiered system
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson planned to announce a new alert level system on Monday as authorities try to curb the growing number of infections in the country.
Each area of the country will be at "medium", "high" or "very high" alert levels, according to a statement from Downing Street.
He added that the government was working with local leaders to decide how the areas would be classified and what they will mean.
Liverpool, in the North West of England, is expected to be at the highest level, which will see restrictions tighten and gyms, pubs and casinos close.
The medium level is expected to imply restrictions on households mixing indoors.
The prime minister was to chair a meeting of the government's COBRA emergency committee on Monday morning to finalize the details before sketching them out in parliament later.
Parliamentarians will debate and vote on the measures this week.
"We must do everything we can to protect the NHS (National Health Service) and make sure it can continue to provide the essential services that so many depend on," said a Downing Street spokesman.
"This is a critical juncture and it is absolutely vital that everyone follows the clear guidance."
The British government reported 12,872 new cases and 65 deaths on Sunday, meaning the country has recorded a total of 603,716 cases and 42,825 deaths.
The country reported a record 22,961 daily cases on October 4 after a delay.
Many large cities in Germany are hotspots
Germany's largest cities have become hotspots in recent days, with Berlin registering the most cases.
High numbers are also recorded in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Essen and Stuttgart.
Germany reported 2,467 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country's public health institute.
This came after a daily increase of more than 4,000 cases during the previous days, the highest figures since April.
Stuttgart has asked the military for help in fighting the virus.
The military is already helping some areas with contact tracing and running test centers, but it's not that common for a large city to ask for help.
Germany has registered 325,331 coronavirus cases and 9,621 deaths, according to the RKI.
More French cities on 'high alert'
The French cities of Toulouse and Montpelier will be added to the 'high alert' category from Tuesday, regional health agencies announced Sunday.
Paris, Marseille, Lille, Lyon, Grenoble, Saint-Etienne and the overseas department of Guadeloupe are already in the "high alert category".
This means stricter measures that include closing bars and gyms.
A "high alert" level is established when the virus incidence rate exceeds 250 cases per 100,000 people.
Also when the incidence rate for people aged 65 and over is greater than 100 and more than 30% of ICU beds are occupied by coronavirus patients.
The French Health Minister, Olivier Veran, responded on Sunday on Twitter to criticism of the measures in the face of the increase in covid-19 in Europe.
"Our health workers gave a lot during the first wave and they are tired," he posted.
"What we want is to slow down the virus, avoid serious forms, limit the admission of people to the ICU and limit deaths."
Case record
France's national health authority said Sunday that 16,101 new cases had been reported daily.
A record 26,896 new daily cases were announced on Saturday.
The positivity rate, the percentage of tests that are positive, has risen to 11.5%, up from 7.6% on October 1 and 4.3% on September 1.
There have been 32,730 covid-related deaths in France, according to the health authority.
Aurelien Rousseau, head of the health authority for the Paris region, said on Monday that the positivity rate was 17% in the Paris region.
He told CNN affiliate BFM that "this is a number we have never reached."
Valentina DiDonato, Nicola Ruotolo, Claudia Otto, Fred Pleitgen, Pierre Bairin, and Samantha Tapfumaneyi contributed to this report.
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