(Bloomberg) — Greece became the latest European country to declare a national lockdown on the same day England entered a four-week shutdown to combat the accelerating spread of Covid-19.
New cases in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic climbed to record highs, while unprecedented numbers of coronavirus patients are in intensive care in Belgium. The European Commission cut its economic forecast for 2021, projecting growth of just 4.2%.
The pandemic continued to rage in America with close to 100,000 new cases. Coronavirus deaths and infections worldwide surged by daily records, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Key Developments:
Global Tracker: Cases surpass 48 million; deaths top 1.22 millionEurope’s lockdown wave risks double-dip recessionsBrexit in a lockdown is worst of all worlds for U.K. businessAmerica’s Covid-19 hotspots stuck with TrumpCaution arises on rapid tests in asymptomatic peopleVaccine Tracker: Clinical trials restart in hopeful sign
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Greece to Enter National Lockdown on Saturday (6:08 p.m. HK)
Greece will go into a three-week national lockdown from 6 a.m. Saturday after a prolonged rise in coronavirus infections and an increase in the number of patients in intensive care, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
“If we continued to see the same rate of increase in cases as in the past week we’d have thousands in our hospitals,” Mitsotakis said in a nationally televised address.
Greece recorded a new daily record high of 2,646 new cases Wednesday, while the occupancy rate of total intensive-care units currently stands at 69%. The total number of infections in the country of around 11 million people is now 46,892.
Europe Economy Faces Sluggish Recovery in 2021 (6:00 p.m. HK)
The euro-area economy will grow 4.2% in 2021, less than previously anticipated, the European Commission said. The European Union’s executive arm does see a shallower recession this year, though that doesn’t include the latest government lockdowns, which could push some of the region’s biggest economies back into recession.
The outlook is for a sluggish recovery next year that leaves EU nations open to rising company failures and long-term unemployment, the Commission said.
Polish, Czech Infections Hit New Records (5:44 p.m. HK)
Poland confirmed 27,143 new coronavirus cases in the last 234 hours, a record, with 367 more deaths, the country’s health ministry said. That pushes the country’s infection rate over a threshold set by the government for the imposition of a full lockdown.
The Czech Republic also registered a record daily caseload, with 15,729 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, according to health ministry. The country’s health-care system is under pressure and a state of emergency was recently extended until Dec. 3.
Swedish Economy Disappoints, PM Enters Isolation (5:40 p.m. HK)
Sweden’s economy grew less than expected in the third quarter, when a lull in the virus during the summer months allowed businesses and households to return to a semi-normal existence. Gross domestic product grew 4.3% from the previous quarter, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday, less than economists’ predictions of 5%.
Separately, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he is self-isolating after being exposed to a person who tested positive for Covid-19. Lofven said on Facebook that he has no symptoms and feels well.
Top Serb Clerics Get Covid-19 After Funeral (3:50 p.m. HK)
The head of Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej, and one of his bishops tested positive for the coronavirus days after holding service for another top cleric whose funeral in neighboring Montenegro drew crowds that ignored health warnings.
Patriarch Irinej, 90, has been hospitalized in Belgrade, the Serbian Orthodox Church said by email late Wednesday. Bishop Joanikije, another dignitary of the denomination, also tested positive.
Both attended the funeral on Sunday for Bishop Amfilohije, who died last week from Covid-19 in Montenegro. He was a prominent political figure whose support of opposition groups helped them defeat the long-ruling party of President Milo Djukanovic in August elections.
Bank of England Boosts U.K. Stimulus (3:00 p.m. HK)
Policymakers at the Bank of England voted unanimously to inject an extra 150 billion pounds ($195 billion) into the U.K. economy by increasing the size of its government bond-buying program to combat the effects of the accelerating pandemic.
Officials also slashed their economic growth estimates, saying they now expected a contraction in the fourth quarter. The U.K. economy will shrink by 11% in 2020 before expanding 7.5% in 2021, the bank said.
German Cases Climb to Record (2:28 p.m. HK)
Germany registered a record increase in new cases, days after the government imposed the toughest restrictions since a national lockdown in the spring.
Europe’s biggest economy had 31,480 new infections in the 24 hours through Thursday morning, bringing the total to 608,611, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The figures have fluctuated wildly in recent weeks, with daily infections falling to the lowest in almost two weeks on Wednesday.
India Adds More Than 50,000 Cases (12:09 p.m. HK)
India reported 50,210 new infections Thursday, the first time in 10 days that cases have topped 50,000. Daily infections have dropped from a peak of more than 97,000 in mid-September, but a rise in cases is expected as India kicks off its festival season — culminating in Diwali on Nov. 14.
Total cases in India are at 8.36 million, the second-highest globally behind the U.S., while the country’s death toll rose to 124,315 as of Thursday.
Record Worldwide Deaths (11:33 a.m. HK)
Daily coronavirus deaths worldwide set a new record of more than 10,000, while global infections passed 600,000 in a day for the first time as the pandemic gathered pace, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Hokkaido Outbreak Grows (10:25 a.m. HK)
Infections in Japan’s northern-most prefecture Hokkaido, where cases have spiked since October, may break through 100 for the first time today, according to local broadcaster FNN.
Hokkaido’s governor and the mayor for the prefecture’s biggest city met Wednesday to discuss possible restrictions, such as asking restaurants in the city’s nightlife district to shorten operating hours in exchange for subsidies, FNN reported.
China Suspends Entry for U.K. Visas (9:10 a.m. HK)
China will temporarily suspend entry by non-Chinese U.K. nationals who hold valid visas or residence permits, the Chinese Embassy in the U.K. said in a statement.
The suspension is in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and will be assessed as it evolves, the embassy said. Entry by holders of diplomatic, service or C visas won’t be affected, it said.
Denver Mulls Tighter Rules (8:15 a.m. HK)
Denver is considering “more tools to restrict gatherings and avoid a stay-at-home order,” said Theresa Marchetta, spokeswoman for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. “It’s safe to say everything is on the table.”
Pueblo, the ninth-largest city in Colorado, last week imposed a two-week, overnight curfew.
U.K. May Unveil Furlough Details (7:33 a.m. HK)
The U.K. is expected to unveil details of a wage support program Thursday, amid calls for more generous help for people who can’t work due to coronavirus restrictions.
The Treasury announced Saturday it would extend furlough payments at 80% of employee wages until Dec. 2 to support workers during a second lockdown that starts Thursday. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is due to announce further extending the program beyond Dec. 2 in areas under the highest levels of restrictions, the Sun newspaper said.
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