Europe Imposes Coronavirus Restrictions after Alarming Surge of Infections

About two million people in northeast England, including in the cities of Newcastle and Sunderland, will no longer be allowed to meet people outside their homes.

Only table service will be allowed in bars and entertainment venues will have to close by 10pm.

The government already imposed rules across England on Monday limiting socializing to groups of six or fewer, as daily cases reached levels not seen since early May.

French authorities are also preparing tighter restrictions in several cities to curtail a resurgence that has seen nearly 10,000 new cases per day in the past week.

Health minister Olivier Veran said Lyon and Nice would be under new rules by Saturday, after curbs on public gatherings were imposed this week in Bordeaux and Marseille.

'Depressed'

Israel is set to become the first developed country in the world to enforce a second nationwide shutdown, beginning Friday afternoon.

The move sparked protests in Tel Aviv late Thursday when hundreds took to the streets against the restrictions, which are set to take effect just hours before Jewish New Year and will cover other religious holidays including Yom Kippur.

"The economy is in freefall, people are losing their jobs, they're depressed," said 60-year-old Yael.

"And all this for what? For nothing!"

The country has the world's second-highest virus infection rate after Bahrain, according to AFP figures.

Under its new measures, residents will be limited to within 500 meters (yards) of their home.

Read also: Jakarta Reimposes Partial Lockdown from Sept. 14 as Covid-19 Cases Surge

As anger grows over how authorities worldwide have responded to the virus, some governments are facing legal action from citizens for alleged failures.

A French association of Covid-19 victims plans to file a legal complaint against Prime Minister Jean Castex, its lawyer said.