The number of new cases of a novel coronavirus in the United States hit a record high in a single day on Friday, with a surge in the number of infections raising fears that the epidemic is headed for its next peak in the colder months of fall and winter.
As of Friday night, more than 82,000 cases had been reported across the United States, breaking the record of more than 6,000 set on July 16, according to The New York Times.
The Times also reported that about 41,000 people are currently hospitalized in the U.S., a 41 percent increase from last month. The number of cases reported in the northern states of the Rocky Mountain region and the Upper Midwest has increased dramatically.
A new study from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation showed Friday that unless the vast majority of Americans wear masks, the number of new crown deaths in the U.S. could exceed 500,000 by February of next year. If 95 percent of Americans wore masks, the report said, there could be 130,000 fewer deaths.
In Europe, the total number of new crown cases diagnosed in France exceeded 1 million, with a record 42,032 new cases diagnosed in 24 hours. France became the seventh country, after the United States, India, Brazil, Russia, Argentina, and Spain, to have more than one million confirmed cases.
Epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet, a member of the scientific committee that advises the French government, said, “The virus is spreading faster now than it did in the spring.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the curfew imposed Friday night on two-thirds of France could be further tightened if the restrictions do not lead to a reduction in new cases of the crown.
In many European countries, including parts of Germany, Spain, Italy, Britain and Slovakia, residents face additional restrictions on their daily lives as governments impose curfews and social restrictions.
Countries are anxious to find ways to slow the spread of the epidemic while avoiding the full-scale blockade imposed earlier this year. The blockade has caused significant economic damage and public support has been low.
Hundreds of protesters in Naples, Italy, protested Friday night against a new regional curfew. Demonstrators threw smoke bombs and police responded with tear gas. Italy counted nearly 20,000 new cases on Friday, a record high for a single day.
Wales, England, began closing non-essential business establishments Friday night, with plans to continue until Nov. 9. Stores, restaurants and pubs will be strictly closed for two weeks.
Welsh Chief Minister Mark Drakeford (Chinese: 翟景辉) said earlier this week, “Establishing a quarantine period is our best chance of regaining control of the virus and avoiding a longer and more damaging national lockdown.”
Poland announced that starting Saturday, the country will become a “red zone” under severe restrictions, which will be lower than a total lockdown. Poland will close restaurants and bars, limit public gatherings to no more than five people, and require the public to wear masks at all times outdoors.
Other countries are adopting less restrictive measures.
Belgium is one of the countries most affected by the epidemic. Belgium limits social contact and prohibits spectators from attending sporting events. Denmark says it will lower the limit on public gatherings from 50 to 10 people and will ban the sale of alcohol after 10 p.m.
According to the New York Times, data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control show that hospitalizations in Europe “are still less than half of their peaks in March and April” but are rising steadily each week, despite the surge, according to the New York Times.
Researchers around the world are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine against the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 1.1 million people and sickened more than 42 million worldwide.
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