France, Germany see surge in coronavirus cases as holidaymakers return home

Issued on: 20/08/2020 - 12:55Modified: 20/08/2020 - 12:59

France, one of Europe's worst-hit countries, on Wednesday recorded new coronavirus cases at the fastest daily rate since May.

Almost 3,800 Covid-19 infections were confirmed in the past 24 hours, the French health ministry's DGS public health division said.

"All indicators continue to climb and transmission of the virus is intensifying," the DGS said in a statement.

Toulouse on Wednesday became the first French city to declare face masks compulsory outdoors.

Masks are already mandatory on public transport in France and indoors in public places, amid fears that a mass movement of people as the summer break draws to a close will lead to a spike in infections. 

Earlier this week, the French government announced that masks would also be required in workplaces, including meeting rooms, corridors and open spaces.

Mandatory tests                 

Germany on Thursday reported 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since the peak of the pandemic in April.

The country has fared better than many European neighbours in suppressing the virus so far but like elsewhere, the number of cases has jumped significantly over the summer holidays.

Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings. Schools already resumed last week in parts of Germany.

Faced with the surge in cases, Germany earlier this month introduced free, mandatory tests for anyone returning from areas deemed at high risk for Covid-19 infections.

And Chancellor Angela Merkel warned this week there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

On Wednesday, Spain recorded 6,700 new infections in 24 hours, bringing the country's total to more than 370,000, the highest caseload in western Europe.

In Finland, the government on Wednesday removed most EU countries from its "green travel list", meaning that only people arriving from a handful of states will be able to enter the country without coronavirus restrictions from Monday.

Vaccines for all?

An ethics and safety debate is raging around the world as the race to develop a vaccine gathers pace.

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the pandemic is exacerbating inequalities between rich and poor, and called for universal vaccines not reserved just for the wealthiest.  

Some governments have struck deals with companies, hoping to secure exclusive supplies of the vaccines when developed.

In the United States, the country's top infectious diseases official, Anthony Fauci, said the government would not make any future Covid-19 vaccine obligatory for the general public.

But he said local jurisdictions could make it mandatory for some groups, like children.

"You don't want to mandate and try and force anyone to take a vaccine. We've never done that," said Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, during a video talk Wednesday organised by George Washington University.

His comments came hours after Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that coronavirus vaccines, once approved, would be mandatory for everyone in his country barring medical exemptions.

The coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 780,000 people and infected over 22 million, according to an AFP tally.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)