Fears of European second wave as infection rates rise across continent

Fears are growing that a second wave of coronavirus is on the march across Europe, with sharp increases in infections in several countries raising the prospect of quarantines for British tourists.

France recorded 1,604 new cases on Thursday, just short of Wednesday's figure of 1,695, which was the highest daily increase in two months.

Spain, which reported 1,683 new infections on Thursday, also experienced its largest daily rise since emerging from lockdown in June on Wednesday, with 1,772. Already battling a serious outbreak, it is the subject of a two-week quarantine order for those travelling into Britain.

In Germany, the number of daily new cases passed 1,000 for the first time in three months on Thursday.

The figures have prompted concerns over a second wave of the pandemic, with authorities rushing to implement new containment measures.

Jean Castex, the French prime minister, warned that the country may impose a new lockdown if people failed to observe social distancing rules.

Face masks are already compulsory in indoor public spaces, and many French towns and cities have now also made them mandatory in crowded outdoor areas.

On Thursday, Germany ordered compulsory testing for all international travellers arriving from countries deemed high risk, with fines of up to €25,000 (£22,500) for those refusing.

While German experts are urging caution, they also concede the current situation is nowhere near as dramatic as the initial outbreak of the virus.

Germany currently has only 272 coronavirus patients in intensive care, and the country's reproduction number, or 'R' rate, fell back under one to 0.99 on Thursday.

In France, only 137 of the new cases are being treated in hospital, and the overall number of hospitalised coronavirus patients continues to fall.

In contrast to the rapid spread of the virus in February and March, Europe is seeing a more gradual rise in infections.

"We are already in a second, flat surge," Susanne Johna, of Germany's Marburger Bund medical association, warned this week. "The pandemic is slowly building up. There is a danger that we will lose what success we have achieved in Germany."

The pattern of infection has changed from a month ago, when it was concentrated around isolated and easily contained outbreaks.

"What we are seeing are many smaller outbreaks," Jens Spahn, the German health minister, said on Thursday. "People are getting infected at family celebrations, in shared accommodations, at religious services."

There is more urgent alarm over the current situation in Spain. The region of Aragon, not on the mainstream tourist trail, now has the highest rate of cases in Europe, with 567 per 100,000 of population.

Sixty per cent of new cases recorded in Spain on Wednesday were in Aragon and Madrid, where 25 elderly people who tested negative for the virus had to be evacuated from a care home after 47 others tested positive.

The Spanish outbreak remains concentrated in the north-east and Madrid, with other regions of the country determined to protect the vital tourist industry.

The Canary Islands, one of the most popular Spanish destinations for Britons, has become the first to take out insurance to cover costs visitors face if they become infected. Any tourist who tests positive for coronavirus during their stay will be eligible for free medical care, repatriation and quarantine accommodation.

Elsewhere in Europe, some countries which were largely spared from the first wave are now sounding the alarm.

Poland recorded its highest ever daily increase in infections on Wednesday, with 726 new cases. The Polish government responded to the spike by making face masks compulsory in all public areas, including outdoors, from this weekend.

"We need to wake up a bit," Lukasz Szumowski, the health minister, said.

Greece also raised the possibility of new restrictions after it recorded 124 new cases in 24 hours on Wednesday.

Despite fears that reopening the country to tourism could cause a spike, just 15 of the new infections were detected at border crossings.