France may impose new lockdowns as Italy plans ban on private parties

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France has said it may be forced to impose new lockdowns, Italy is expected to ban private parties and the Czech Republic announced that it would close bars and shift most schools to distance learningas Europe’s Covid-19 second wave continues to gather pace.

The moves came as the World Health Organization director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that allowing coronavirus to spread in the hope of achieving so-called herd immunity would be “scientifically and ethically problematic”.

Demand for tests soars as people return to work and school after the holidays

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French health officials are to open 20 new Covid-19 testing centres in the Paris region after demand for tests soared at la rentrée, last week’s grand return to work and classes following the long school holidays.

The authorities said testing capacity in and around the French capital had risen more than fourfold from 45,000 to 200,000 a week and 1 million people were being tested nationally every week – about 140,000 a day – but there were still queues and delays.

Face coverings now mandatory ‘in all shared and enclosed spaces’ as Covid-19 infections rise in France

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It had not – really not – been a pleasant experience. Queuing for their banh mi and bibimbap, sushi or Thai salad outside the fast-food takeaways of the Rue Saint-Lazare, young office workers in central Paris spoke with one voice.

“I thought I wasn’t going to last an hour, it was so uncomfortable,” said Egé, gesturing at her blue surgical mask. “Hot, sweaty, the smell of your own breath … Just very unpleasant. But you get used to it. In any case, we have no choice.”