Coronavirus in Europe: French and Dutch on alert over rise in cases

New infections nearly back to peak in Netherlands as France reports worrying increase'

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New daily coronavirus infections in the Netherlands are nearly back to their level at the peak of the pandemic, while France's prime minister has said it is crucial for his country to avoid a new lockdown amid a worrying increase" in cases.

Jaap van Dissel, the Netherlands' chief epidemiologist, told the Dutch parliament on Tuesday that 4,036 new Covid-19 cases had been reported in the past week, an increase of 55% on the previous seven days. The figure translates to a weekly average of just over 500, compared to nearly 1,200 at the peak of pandemic.