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| Covid: Europe sees record virus case rise | Covid: Europe sees record virus case rise |
| (14 days later) | |
| France has reported Europe's highest ever number of new daily Covid cases as countries across the continent struggle to contain the Omicron variant. | France has reported Europe's highest ever number of new daily Covid cases as countries across the continent struggle to contain the Omicron variant. |
| But France, with its 179,807 cases on Tuesday, was not alone in breaking records, as Italy, Greece, Portugal and England all reported record highs too. | But France, with its 179,807 cases on Tuesday, was not alone in breaking records, as Italy, Greece, Portugal and England all reported record highs too. |
| The figures could be due in part to reporting delays over Christmas. | The figures could be due in part to reporting delays over Christmas. |
| Countries had been reporting rises running up the festive period, driven by the more contagious Omicron variant. | Countries had been reporting rises running up the festive period, driven by the more contagious Omicron variant. |
| Studies suggest it is milder than Delta, with a 30% to 70% lower chance of infected people ending up in hospital. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that a surge in cases across Europe will push health systems towards the brink of collapse. | Studies suggest it is milder than Delta, with a 30% to 70% lower chance of infected people ending up in hospital. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that a surge in cases across Europe will push health systems towards the brink of collapse. |
| According to the WHO's weekly Covid update published on Tuesday, the number of new Covid infections grew by 57% in Europe in the week before 26 December, and by 30% in the Americas region. | According to the WHO's weekly Covid update published on Tuesday, the number of new Covid infections grew by 57% in Europe in the week before 26 December, and by 30% in the Americas region. |
| Record daily rises in Europe | Record daily rises in Europe |
| On Monday, French health minister Olivier Véran warned "everything suggests" France could see as many as 250,000 cases a day by the start of January, while the French Hospital Federation has said that the "most difficult weeks are yet to come". | On Monday, French health minister Olivier Véran warned "everything suggests" France could see as many as 250,000 cases a day by the start of January, while the French Hospital Federation has said that the "most difficult weeks are yet to come". |
| France's Prime Minister Jean Castex announced new restrictions earlier this week including at least three days a week mandatory working from home for those who can from early January. | France's Prime Minister Jean Castex announced new restrictions earlier this week including at least three days a week mandatory working from home for those who can from early January. |
| The country's booster rollout has also ramped up, with more than 23 million having received a booster to date. | The country's booster rollout has also ramped up, with more than 23 million having received a booster to date. |
| Elsewhere in Europe: | Elsewhere in Europe: |
| Infections in Italy topped 78,000 cases, hitting a new record since the start of the pandemic. It also recorded 202 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 136,753 | Infections in Italy topped 78,000 cases, hitting a new record since the start of the pandemic. It also recorded 202 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 136,753 |
| Portugal also recorded a new total of 17,172 cases on Tuesday, a rise on Monday's total | Portugal also recorded a new total of 17,172 cases on Tuesday, a rise on Monday's total |
| Greece's Health Minister, Thanos Plevris, called for calm after the country reported 21,657 cases | Greece's Health Minister, Thanos Plevris, called for calm after the country reported 21,657 cases |
| Cyprus also recorded a single-day record high of infections, with 2,241 new cases | Cyprus also recorded a single-day record high of infections, with 2,241 new cases |
| Meanwhile, health authorities in England reported a record 117,093 cases. Full UK-wide Covid data has been unavailable over the Christmas period | Meanwhile, health authorities in England reported a record 117,093 cases. Full UK-wide Covid data has been unavailable over the Christmas period |
| However, while a number of cities - including Paris, London and Berlin - have cancelled official New Year's celebrations, some governments have been less willing to bring in nationwide restrictions. | However, while a number of cities - including Paris, London and Berlin - have cancelled official New Year's celebrations, some governments have been less willing to bring in nationwide restrictions. |
| People in France and England have been asked to use their common sense, while the Spanish capital Madrid has said it will go ahead with its celebrations with a cap on the number of attendees at Puerta del Sol square. | People in France and England have been asked to use their common sense, while the Spanish capital Madrid has said it will go ahead with its celebrations with a cap on the number of attendees at Puerta del Sol square. |
| Italy, meanwhile, has banned outdoor events and closed nightclubs but there are no restrictions on private gatherings. | Italy, meanwhile, has banned outdoor events and closed nightclubs but there are no restrictions on private gatherings. |
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| Omicron and boosters: Your questions answered | Omicron and boosters: Your questions answered |
| Omicron and boosters: Your questions answered | Omicron and boosters: Your questions answered |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Europe | |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| France | France |
| Omicron variant | Omicron variant |