Parts of Madrid, the capital of Spain, are to face lockdown restrictions as cases across Europe continue to spike.

According to the BBC, as from Monday, close to a million people in the Madrid region will face travel limitations and a reduction in the size of groups allowed. The BBC reports that Spain has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe at 625 651 cases, and that infection rates in the Madrid region are more than double the national average. Spain was among the worst-hit European countries in the first wave of infections, with more than 30 000 lives reportedly lost.

Madrid regional government chief, Isabel Díaz Ayuso said, “There are 37 basic areas where the incidence is very high, over 1 000 for every 100 000 people in the last 14 days.” She added that those areas had a particularly high population density. The areas affected are some of Madrid’s poorest. The Spanish government has expressed concern that quarantines will not be executed properly as there are fears by residents that the new restrictions will deprive them of income.

Meanwhile, all of Europe is bracing for a second wave of the pandemic. France recorded its highest number of new confirmed daily cases since the pandemic began, at 13 215. That equates a jump of nearly 3,000 more cases in 24 hours. The BBC reports several cities in the country were imposing tighter restrictions.

The UK has also recorded its highest number of cases since May, on Friday, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson having warned that a second wave was now “inevitable”. Extensive lockdown measures have been introduced in northern England.

Meanwhile, in Greece, months after the initial outbreak of the virus, residents of Athens face a hard lockdown: They will only be able to go to work, school or to seek medical care.

Umm Muhammed Umar