Mar 15, 2021 - World

New COVID-19 restrictions in Europe as countries battle variants

Shawna Chen

Photo of a tent set up for COVID testing and people standing outside socially distanced — Medical staff processes a COVID-19 test in Zeitz, Germany. PPhoto by Jens Schlueter via Getty Images

Europe continues to struggle with the rapidly evolving coronavirus as Germany's public health agency warns of a "third wave" of coronavirus infections and Italy prepares to enter another near-nationwide lockdown.

The big picture: Countries have attempted to lift restrictions as vaccination campaigns are deployed, but doing so too quickly could invite another wave of infections amid the spread of new variants.

Germany has gradually relaxed lockdown restrictions in recent weeks, but there are "clear signs" of a third wave that has already begun, Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases, told CNBC on Monday.

Germany has had over 2.5 million coronavirus cases and saw a spike in the number of daily cases in March, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Noting that Germany was underprepared in vaccine distribution, Wieler added that "the virus is not going to disappear, but once we have a base level of immunity in the population, we can control it."

Italy's top officials are considering enforcing tougher health measures from March 15 through April 6, Italian news agency ANSA reports.

The government plans to place almost the entire country in its red zone, imposing the maximum level of restrictions from April 3 to April 5. This period includes Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Italy has topped 3.2 million coronavirus cases, with the number of daily cases rising steadily since February, per Johns Hopkins University.
The only region in Italy's white zone is Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea.

The new restrictions come after many European countries suspended AstraZeneca vaccinations amid reports of blood clots.

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New COVID-19 restrictions in Europe as countries battle variants

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