Coronavirus infections are surging again across much of Europe and governments are racing to prevent a full-fledged second wave of the pandemic —without resorting to the kind of broad lockdowns that devastated their economies in the spring. The seven-day moving average of reported new daily cases has more than doubled since the end of July in the five largest European countries, nearing 11,000. That is the biggest sustained rise on the continent since it beat back the virus’s initial spike in March and April. In response, governments are broadening requirements to wear masks, ordering nightclubs to close again, tightening restrictions on gatherings and forcing some travelers to quarantine. Officials hope those measures will head off the need to shut down reopened schools and businesses more broadly.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 19, 2020 14:48 UTC