Germany and France announced new severe restrictions

German state leaders agreed on a video conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday that restaurants, bars, cinemas, theaters and other cultural and entertainment establishments in the country would be closed for four weeks to prevent the sudden spread of the coronavirus.

The measures will take effect on Monday and run until the end of November. Gatherings of more than two households, a total of ten people, are not allowed.

"We need to act, and now, to prevent an acute public health emergency," Merkel said.

Unlike the first wave of the pandemic in March and April, shops and educational establishments will remain open. Restaurants can sell food.

Merkel urged people to avoid unnecessary travel. Accommodation will only be open to non-tourist travelers.

Swimming pools, gyms and other sports facilities will also be closed.

To alleviate the economic impact of the restrictions, the state will provide up to € 10 billion in aid to the sectors most affected by the measures.

Merkel acknowledged that the measures are strict and drastic, but that the current level of infection could overburden the health care system.

The decision was made just hours after the German health authorities reported 14,964 new coronary infections in the last 24 hours. This brought the total number of infections to 449,275.

The number of new infections has doubled in a week and the number of intensive care patients has doubled in ten days, Merkel noted.

"The curve must be lowered again so that the contact tracing can be carried out again," the chancellor said, adding that in three out of four cases it was not possible to identify where the infection came from.

In Germany, with a population of 83 million, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 10,098 people.

In France, almost all corona restrictions will be reintroduced

In France, almost all previous crown restrictions will be reintroduced from Friday. In France, the new lock will last at least throughout November.

According to President Emmanuel Macron, the new measures will come into force on Friday, according to which people can leave their homes only if they need to work or see a doctor, the BBC reported.

Non-essential businesses such as restaurants and bars will be temporarily closed, but schools and factories will remain open.

France has the highest rate of daily coronary deaths since April. On Tuesday, 33,000 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the country.

Macron said in a TV address that the country is threatened by congestion due to the second corona wave, and the second wave is undoubtedly more severe than the first.