The second wave of COVID-19 is slowing down in some, but not all majorly affected countries in Europe. This time around, the virus isn't budging easily, as ups and downs in the growth curves of cumulative infections show.
According to numbers by Johns Hopkins University, the most-affected Western European nations are experiencing fewer new cases, but are still a ways away from having flattened the curve. France, which came out of its lockdown and now is imposing an early curfew at 6 p.m. instead, is currently seeing the steepest growth, while Italy is not far behind.
Virus mutations, like the B117 or UK variety, were one of the problems posed by the virus' second wave. The double bend of the UK curve might be testament to the more contagious variety starting to spread in the country in late fall and winter. The country counted 4.2 million cases on March 1. France has surpassed 3.8 million total cases.
Spain and Italy have been applying regional lockdown systems in combination with national curfews. While the Spanish curve shows a second upwards bend after Christmas, growth in Italy has been more gradual. Germany has the fewest cases at just over 2.5 million.
Due to the fast growth of case numbers in the UK, the country is now the fifth most affected in the world by absolute numbers after the U.S., India, Brazil and Russia. Due to the severity of the second wave in Europe, France, Spain, Italy and Germany currently all make the top ten of the countries hit hardest by COVID-19.
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