England eases coronavirus curbs but Europe reels from surges

England began to further ease its coronavirus lockdown on March 29, spurred by rapid vaccinations, but governments in the rest of Europe struggled to contain COVID-19 surges.

Dramatic infection spikes in Europe have forced a tightening of unpopular restrictions across the continent, with Washington's top pandemic expert warning the United States could suffer a similar surge if curbs are eased too quickly.

In sharp contrast, people in England were set for what newspapers dubbed "Happy Monday", with stay-at-home orders relaxed to allow outdoor gatherings of up to six people and the resumption of amateur sports.

"But we must remain cautious, with cases rising across Europe and new variants threatening our vaccine rollout," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, conceding that the European wave could hit Britain.

On March 28, Britain passed the milestone of giving the first vaccine dose to more than 30 million adults, and the government plans to allow outdoor drinking in pub gardens and non-essential retail such as hairdressers in England from April 12.

The other nations in the United Kingdom - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - are following their own schedules.
The mood was grim across the English Channel, however.

A snowballing of cases in France intensified pressure on health infrastructure, and top officials warned on March 28 that Paris hospitals may be forced to turn patients away.

"In 10 days, 15 days or three weeks we may be overwhelmed," senior Paris hospitals official Remi Salomon told BFMTV, pleading for a new lockdown - including for schools.

And in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel on March 28 pleaded with state governments to stop straying from agreed pandemic measures, with her government...

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