TOP HEADLINES:
- Russia has started to manufacture its new COVID-19 vaccine, despite many countries urging more testing. The first vaccine to go into production, it will be rolled out by the end of the month, Russia's health ministry said.
- Thousands of UK citizens faced a race against time to return from their overseas holidays before the new restrictions on arrivals from some European countries came into place on Saturday morning. Britons had until 04:00 GMT to return, or would have to self-isolate for 14 days.
- Soft play areas, casinos and indoor theaters in the UK are allowed to reopen their doors on Saturday as the government further eases the country's lockdown restrictions. Wedding receptions of up to 30 people will also be permitted.
- Greece has limited public gatherings to a maximum of 50 people after a recent spike in cases. Restaurants and bars in the capital Athens and other regions must close by midnight.
- Global COVID-19 infections surpassed 21 million with 759,411 fatalities reported, according to a Reuters tally.
- Germany has declared most of Spain as a high-risk region following a recent surge in new infections across the country in recent days. People coming into Germany from Spain, excluding the Canary Islands, will have to take a mandatory COVID-19 test.
- Austria's foreign ministry has warned against travel to Croatia after the country recorded 57 new cases among people arriving from there in the past 24 hours. The warning comes into effect from Monday.
- Croatia has ordered bars and nightclubs to close at midnight for the 10 days after 208 new cases were recorded on Friday,
- Ukraine hit a new daily record for infections in the country as 1,847 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.
Casinos, bowling alleys and soft play areas in the UK are allowed to reopen their doors on Saturday. /Reuters
ACROSS EUROPE
Iolo ap Dafydd in London
A two-week quarantine has been imposed in the UK on travellers returning from more countries. It led to a mass departure from France especially – by train, plane and boat.
The 04:00 local time deadline meant thousands of Britons paid hundreds of dollars extra for tickets to avoid isolating themselves for two weeks at their homes. They've returned early because of work and other commitments.
The decision was taken as France's current coronavirus case rate of 34.0 people per 100,000 is almost twice as high as the UK's 17.3, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. But once again the UK government's timing has been questioned and criticized by many who've cut short their holidays.
In contrast to imposing quarantine, there'll be more restrictions eased for many more businesses.
Bowling alleys, ice rinks, soft play centers, casinos and indoor theaters and music venues will be able to reopen for the first time in five months. Weddings for up to 30 people will also be able to go ahead.
Greece
Public gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned in Greece following a recent spike in infections. Restaurants and bars in the capital Athens and other regions across the nation must close by midnight for each of the next 10 days, the country's government announced.
Greece's prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged young people to wear masks, saying they are also vulnerable to the virus and could still pass it on to their friends and family. Worrying data has revealed that recent infections has started to spread among lower age groups.
"No measures can substitute for personal responsibility, particularly that of young people to protect their parents and grandparents," said the country's Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias.
Other new measures include the mandatory wearing of face masks in refugee camps and military facilities, while visitors from Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Czechia have to show proof they have recently tested negative for the virus before entering the country.
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