Europe braces for curfews, lockdowns as region awaits Covid-19 vaccines

France expanded a daily 12-hour curfew nationwide starting Saturday, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is leading toward a tougher lockdown

New cases in Spain rose to a record on Thursday, more than doubling from Monday, and German infections topped 2 million

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People walk through Gran Via avenue in downtown Madrid, Spain. File photo: AP

Published: 3:06pm, 15 Jan 2021Updated: 3:06pm, 15 Jan 2021

Governments in Europe prepared a raft of tougher measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic, putting further strain on economies and political leaders as they seek a faster pace of vaccinations.

France expanded a daily 12-hour curfew nationwide starting Saturday, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is leading toward a tougher lockdown, amid concern that a more contagious Covid-19 variant may cause infections to spiral out of control.

Vaccination is “the utmost priority” to get out of the crisis, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said. “But we must all be patient and responsible because it will take months before vaccination can sufficiently protect us all.”

Evidence is growing that another wave of the virus is sweeping across the region. New cases in Spain rose to a record on Thursday, more than doubling from Monday, and German infections topped 2 million.

Merkel is seeking to discuss additional curbs with the premiers of Germany’s 16 state governments next week. That would accelerate talks originally planned for January 25, according to a person who took part in a phone call between Merkel and leaders of her Christian Democratic Union party on Thursday.

Further restrictions may include curfews and closing schools, Bild reported on Thursday. The meeting with regional leaders could be held on January 20, according to the newspaper.

Merkel said she favoured further restrictions on social contacts and people’s mobility, the call participant said.