BRUSSELS, 23 Nov. - (ANA) - Covid-19 infections have been soaring to almost record levels across Europe, prompting some EU governments to reintroduce lockdown measures - despite high vaccination rates.

 

The World Health Organisation has estimated that another 500,000 people in the continent could die of coronavirus by March next year, unless urgent action is taken to cope with the surge in cases.

 

European capitals have been rocked by protests as thousands swarmed on to the streets to voice their opposition to new lockdown restrictions aimed at curbing spiralling infection rates across the continent.

 

In Brussels, police “fired water cannons and tear gas” on the crowds after “being pelted with projectiles as 35,000 protesters challenged Belgium’s beefed up anti-Covid measures and vaccination campaign”, The Times reported.

 

Police in the Netherlands “made 19 arrests after riots in The Hague on Saturday night when officers charged protesters who set fire to bicycles”, the paper added. Authorities also made “51 arrests and are alleged to have shot protesters” in Rotterdam on Friday.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/23 November 2021 - - -