Europe braces for fresh wave of Covid cases

Madrid Desk, Jul 29 (efe-epa).- Several European countries have ramped up restrictions in a bid to contain rising coronavirus infections.

Italy has extended its state of emergency, testing for returning travellers started in Germany on Wednesday and Britain’s largest tour operator extended its suspension of trips to Spain.

ITALY

The Italian government is to extend the country’s state of emergency until at least 15 October after the move was approved by parliament on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the measure was justified by the worsening situation in several neighbouring countries, including Spain, France and Balkan nations, and said Italy needs to “impose an attitude of vigilance”.

The country was one of the first and worst affected in Europe but has managed to bring its rate of Covid-19 infections under control.

Conte said the virus is “still in circulation” and that keeping the state of emergency in place allows the government to act quickly.

The extension allows a series of regulations approved during the emergency to continue.

It also allows thousands of people to work from home and for safety measures to be implemented when schools return in September.

Another important point is that it gives authorities the power to immediately suspend flights and travel to countries at risk.