Second Covid-19 wave: European countries those enforce fresh lockdown

With the fresh hike of Covid-19 cases after the second wave started sweeping Europe over the past few weeks, England has joined the list alongside France, Germany, Belgium and Greece across the continent.

Here is list of the countries those enforced fresh lockdown to curb the spread of the dreaded novel coronavirus:

England 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a full national lockdown set to begin on Thursday, November 5 and continues until Wednesday, December 2.

Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will close, but schools and universities will remain open.

The furlough scheme, with employees who cannot work paid 80% of their usual wages, will be extended for the duration of this national lockdown.

France

As per the new lockdown measures announced by French President Emanuel Macron people in France will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy essential goods, for medical reasons and to exercise for an hour a day till December 1. 

According to The Le Parisien newspaper, the office of the French prime minister has confirmed that people will be allowed outside up to 1km from their home.

Unlike the first lockdown, however, schools and creches will remain open. Care home visits will also be allowed.

Germany

Germany to go in a four-week-long partial lockdown from November 2 during which restaurants will remain open for takeaways only while shops will remain open with restrictions on space - meaning a maximum of one person per 10 square meters of shop floor will be permitted.

Gyms, cinemas and theatres will close, along with hotels closing to tourists.

Indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people and can include no more than two households.

Like France, schools, nurseries and daycare centers will stay open - and care homes will be able to admit visitors.

Belgium

Belgian authorities have announced that a new nationwide lockdown is to go into effect from November 2 lasting until December 13. 

Non-essential businesses are to close across the country and supermarkets are to remove all non-essential products from their shelves. 

Despite the lockdown, schools are expected to partially reopen on November 16, with a mix of classroom and online teaching. 

Italy

The country is currently under a partial lockdown which was imposed on October 26 and will remain in place for a month.

However, the Italian government may move as soon as this weekend to impose lockdowns on several cities hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, Corriere della Sera reported Saturday. 

Currently, clashes are ongoing in several parts of the country as police dispersed anti-lockdown protesters with tear gas in Milan, and petrol bombs were thrown in Turin. 

Greece

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Saturday declared a partial coronavirus lockdown in a televised address.

The new lockdown will close restaurants and other leisure activities in Athens and other major cities from Tuesday.

The rest of the country will have to abide by an overnight curfew in addition to the compulsory use of masks even outdoors, Mitsotakis said.

Spain

Spain declared a state of emergency and began a nationwide curfew between 11 pm and 6 am on Sunday 25 October.

Similar to Italy the authorities are considering the possibility of a total lockdown across the state amid the rising cases of Covid-19. 

For now, Territorial restrictions are in place and meetings of more than six are banned across the country.

People are only allowed to make a journey if going to work, buying medicine or caring for someone.