More lockdowns, curfews as world fights resurgent coronavirus

Gulf Today Report

Countries across the world tightened restrictions on their populations on Saturday to fight a resurgence in the coronavirus, as more than 84 million people have been reported to infected by the novel virus globally and 1,829,384 have died.

The European Union offered to help drug companies expand vaccine production to improve distribution "bottlenecks" as an extension of an overnight curfew comes into effect in 15 departments of eastern and southeastern France on Saturday to combat a sharp rise in infections.

Emergency medical personnel carry a patient affected with coronavirus in Mulhouse, France. File/AFP

The government ordered the curfew in these regions start at 6 pm rather than 8 pm.

Around six million people are affected but Paris has, for now, been spared the additional restriction.

According to a tally from official sources compiled by a reputable news agency, the coronavirus has killed more than 1.8 million people globally since emerging in China in December 2019.

From local curfews to alcohol bans and complete lockdowns, governments are trying to tackle a surge in cases.

An aerial view shows less than usual passersby seen at a pedestrian crossing in Tokyo, Japan. Kyodo/Reuters

But experts fear the worst is yet to come, predicting a sharp rise in infections and deaths after weeks of holiday gatherings.

French police booked hundreds of New Year revellers on Saturday for flouting anti-Covid measures at an illegal rave.

In Bangkok, the city's nightlife shut down following a ban on bars, nightclubs and restaurant alcohol sales, among a raft of restrictions aimed at curbing the kingdom's rising virus toll.

Public schools in the Thai capital are to close for two weeks.

An outbreak last month at a seafood market has led to a resurgence of the virus in Thailand, with infections detected in 53 of the kingdom's 77 provinces.

In Tokyo, the city's governor on Saturday asked Japan's government to declare a new state of emergency as the country battles a third wave, with record numbers of new cases.

And South Korea extended its anti-virus curbs until January 17 in the greater Seoul area, including a ban on gatherings of more than four people, which will be widened to cover the whole country.