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Agencies

Russia registered a record daily number of new coronavirus infections on Friday, surpassing its previous high from May.
Officials reported 12,126 new infections, edging above the previous high of 11,656 on May 11 and bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,272,238 – the fourth highest in the world.
Widespread restrictions were lifted after new cases began to drop in May, and officials have shown no sign of moving to reimpose such broad measures.
But the head of consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor described the situation as increasingly difficult and warned new measures could lie ahead.
“Either we observe (restrictions) or we will have to introduce new measures,” said Anna Popova.
Moscow – the city with the highest number of cases by far – reimposed some measures last month.
The capital’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin ordered over-65s to stay at home and told employers to keep at least a third of their staff working from home.
Russia has confirmed 22,257 deaths since the start of the pandemic, but critics have accused officials of under-reporting deaths to hide the severity of the situation.


Spain imposes Madrid state of emergency
Spain’s Socialist-led government invoked a state of emergency on Friday to impose a partial lockdown for several million people in Madrid, one of Europe’s worst Covid-19 hot spots, after a court had struck down the measures.
The move escalates a stand-off between Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government and the conservative-led Madrid regional chief who believes the curbs are illegal, excessive and disastrous for the local economy.
Many of the 3.8 million people affected in the capital city and nine satellite towns were bemused and cars continued to pour out for a holiday weekend.
“I feel bad because I don’t know how to act, what to do, if I’m doing things right or wrong, and I feel totally misruled by our politicians who are just not up to the job,” said 64-year-old retiree Jesus Doria.
Following a Health Ministry order, Madrid authorities last week reluctantly barred all non-essential travel in and out of the city and other nearby towns. The region had 723 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the two weeks to October 8, according to the World Health Organization, making it Europe’s second densest cluster after Andorra.
But instead of a blanket restriction, the Madrid region chief Isabel Diaz Ayuso wants tailored restrictions in different neighbourhoods according to local contagion levels.
A Madrid court sided with her on Thursday, effectively suspending the restrictions until the government responded with its two-week emergency order.
“We had an alternative plan we have been defending until the last moment, but it has not been possible, which is a pity. The state of emergency was totally avoidable,” Madrid region spokesman Ignacio Aguado told reporters.

Infections double in England in one week
The rate of coronavirus infection in England almost doubled in the week through October 1, adding to concerns that a fresh surge of the pandemic is spreading through the country.
“The number of infections has increased rapidly in recent weeks,” the Office for National Statistics said on Friday. The rate climbed to one person in 240 from one in 470 a week earlier, it estimated.
The figures come as the UK government prepares to announce new restrictions for the worst-hit parts of the country from Monday, potentially including the closing of restaurants and bars.
Public Health England Medical Director Yvonne Doyle this week warned that the trend of increased cases and hospitalisations “is very concerning.”
Meanwhile, Sophie, Britain’s Countess of Wessex and wife of Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son Prince Edward, is self-isolating at home after coming into contact with someone who has since tested positive for Covid-19, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.
The royal, 55, has no symptoms but is following government guidelines, a palace spokesman said. She has not been in contact with any other member of the wider royal family since, he added.
Alarm as Germany faces ‘uncontrolled’ spread of coronavirus
Czech Republic sees record cases for third day
New reported coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic were their highest for a third straight day, registering another 5,394 cases.
The new cases take the country’s total since the pandemic began to more than 100,000.
The government has responded by imposing further restrictive measures to contain the surge, some of them becoming effective on Friday and others on Monday.
Among them, all theatres, cinemas, zoos, museums, art galleries, fitness centres and public swimming pools will be closed for at least two weeks.
Also, all indoor sports activities will be banned. Outdoors, only up to 20 people will be allowed to participate in sport activities, a measure that will badly hit professional competitions such as soccer leagues.
Restaurants and bars will have to close at 8pm and only four people will be allowed at one table.
Germany agrees stricter curbs for virus hot spots
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and mayors from Germany’s 11 largest cities agreed on Friday to adopt stricter anti-coronavirus measures if infections exceed a threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 population in a week.
Restrictions could include tighter rules on mask-wearing, restrictions on private gatherings and stricter rules on buying alcohol, Merkel said, adding that her top priority was to avoid shutting down the economy and society again, as in the spring.
“These are the days and weeks that will determine in what shape Germany will get through winter in this pandemic,” Merkel told reporters. “Summer went very well overall, but we now see a picture that is cause for concern.”
Germany has so far managed to keep the number of cases and deaths lower than many of its neighbours but the number of new daily coronavirus cases has leapt in recent days, and some hospitals warned of staff shortages on Friday.
It was still possible to bring the pandemic under control in Germany, Merkel said, adding that she was aware the restrictions were painful.
“But I am also convinced that we are at a point where we have to be clear about what is important for us this autumn and winter, and where we have to prioritise, and my highest priority is – if at all possible – not to have to cut back economic and public life again as was necessary in spring,” she said.
Schools should stay open to the extent possible, she added.
Additional reporting by Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters


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Coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus latest: Russia infections spiral; Spain declares emergency in Madrid

A man wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus walks on Red Square in central Moscow. Photo: AFP

Mounted police officers patrol Carretas pedestrianized area in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. France, Spain and the Czech Republic posted record increases in coronavirus cases, underscoring growing alarm in Europe as it struggles to control the pandemic. Photographer: Paul Hanna/Bloomberg

Coronavirus: Spain reports spike in deaths; Italy to make masks mandatory

Italians will soon be forced to wear face masks at all times when outdoors. Photo: Reuters

Coronavirus: Germany warned of ‘uncontrolled’ spread as Europe battles new outbreaks

People take part in a protest against masks and virus restrictions in Konstanz, southern Germany. Photo: AFP

A waiter serves beers at a bar on the eve of the mandatory closure of bars in Brussels, on October 7, 2020, to stop the spread of Covid-19. - In Brussels, bars and drinking alcohol in public places will be banned until November 8, the regional government said. An 11pm bar curfew had already been announced for the rest of the country. (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

Portraits of people and placards from a protest against masks and virus restrictions Konstanz, southern Germany. Photo: AFP

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Russia reported 12,126 new cases on Friday, surpassing its previous high from May
The move escalates a stand-off between the Spanish government and the Madrid regional chief who believes the curbs are illegal



Russia reported 12,126 new cases on Friday, surpassing its previous high from May.


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