Covid pandemic continues to hold Europe in its grip

Germany passes 50,000 Covid deaths, France may need third national lockdown and Belgium and Ireland warn it's too early to ease restrictions

Germany has passed 50,000 Covid deaths, France was told it may soon need a third national lockdown and Belgium and Ireland warned that it was too early to think about easing restrictions as the pandemic continues to hold Europe in its grip.

The German health minister, Jens Spahn, said on Friday that, despite a slowdown in infections, an extension and intensification of lockdown until late February or early March was essential to prevent a considerable worsening" of the situation.