TOP HEADLINES

-The Irish government expects to be able to begin to vaccinate vulnerable people against COVID-19 in first quarter or first half of 2021.

-Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a new state of emergency on Sunday in an effort to curb soaring coronavirus infections after regions urged government tallow them to impose curfews.

-Italy has ordered bars and restaurants to close by 6 p.m. and shut public gyms, cinemas and swimming pools to try to halt a rapid resurgence in cases.

-Slovakia reported 3,042 new coronavirus cases in past 24 hours, the third record daily tally in a row, Health Ministry data showed on Sunday.

-The UK government's COVID-19 task force is considering reducing the quarantine period for people who have been in contact with an infected person from 14 days to between seven and 10 days.

-The Italian government is considering further curbs after recording 19,644 new COVID cases on Saturday and 151 deaths as the disease surged in areas like Lombardy, Milan, Campania and Lazio.

-Greece reported 935 new infections of COVID-19 on Saturday, a fresh daily record, as further restrictions to deal with a new wave kicked in for high-risk regions.

-Health ministry data published on Saturday showed that the number of people who have died while infected with COVID-19 in the Czechia has doubled to 2,047 in two weeks.

-Wales will review its ban on shoppers buying non-essential items during the country's 17-day 'firebreak' national lockdown after a widespread backlash on social media.

-Research conducted by the UK's Environment Agency and Joint Biosecurity Centre has proven that testing sewage can uncover fragments of COVID-19 and could help to contain local outbreaks.

AROUND EUROPE

Spain

A national state of emergency has been declared as the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to rise across the country. 

At least nine of the country's 17 regional leaders  pleaded with the government to give them powers to impose curfews.

After a cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss the country's next steps in their fight against the virus Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that he would ask for the state of emergency to last until May 2021.

A national state of emergency was declared back in March and lasted until June.

Germany

Opposition parties in Germany want future decisions regarding COVID-19 measures to be the subject of parliamentary debate.

Since the start of the pandemic, decisions have been made privately by Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as local and regional authorities.

But Florian Prost, who is a member of the Social Democrats party (SPD) wants that to change. 

"For nearly nine months now, regulations have been put in place by local, regional and central authorities which are restricting people's freedoms in a manner unprecedented in post-war Germany," he told German newspaper Bild. 

"And not even once has an elected parliament been called on to vote on the measures."

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CGTN Europe has been providing in-depth coverage of the novel coronavirus story as it has unfolded. Here you can read the essential information about the crisis