Europe scrambles to tighten rules as COVID cases surge

European countries have begun imposing new restrictions on public and private life as they struggle to cope with steep rises in coronavirus infections. The UK which has Europe’s highest pandemic death toll, has unveiled a new three-tier system, closing pubs, gyms and betting shops in the highest-risk areas. And the regional government in Northern Ireland has just imposed Europe’s harshest 2nd-wave lockdown restrictions. The Czech Republic already imposed a state of emergency. Today, new restrictions come into place, closing all schools, bars, restaurants and clubs. And the Netherlands is also returning to partial lockdown, closing restaurants, hotels and cafes for two weeks.