Madrid Desk, Jan 8, (EFE).- The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc across Europe, as London's Mayor says the situation is "out of control," while the UK's third vaccine by Moderna was approved on Friday.

Germany is urging federal state leaders to implement recently agreed upon restrictions such as limiting non-essential travel to a 15-kilometre radius, while Italy also limits travel by locking down five regions for five days.

UK

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on Friday declared the coronavirus situation in the city to be a "major incident," saying the spread of the virus is "out of control."

Covid-19 cases in London are over 1,000 per 100,000 inhabitants, and hospitals have 35 percent more coronavirus patients than last April.

The Mayor stressed that London could run out of hospital beds in the coming weeks unless the spread of the virus can be dramatically slowed.

"If we do not take immediate action now, our NHS could be overwhelmed and more people will die," said Khan.

"I am today imploring them (Londoners) to please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave."

On Friday British authorities approved Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, the third to enter the UK's vaccination programme.

The government has requested 17 million doses of Moderna to be delivered next spring.

The UK recorded 1,162 new Covid-19 fatalities on Wednesday, bringing the total number of coronavirus deaths to 78,508.

GERMANY

The German government on Friday urged the leaders of the country's federal states to apply more measures to contain the coronavirus, after seeing resistance from some to implement new restrictions.

The call, which reflects the limits of the German federal system as responsibility for enforcing public health laws lies with the states, came amid a new peak in Covid-19 cases, with 1,188 deaths in the last 24 hours and 31,849 new infections.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert urged the states to implement what was agreed on Tuesday between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of the 16 regional executives.

In addition to extending closures of leisure, culture, gastronomy, non-essential businesses and schools until the end of January, measures limiting travel were agreed to for regions with high Covid-19 rates that would force people stay within a 15-kilometre radius of their residence.

ITALY

Rapid increases in Covid-19 cases has forced the Italian government to lockdown some parts the northern regions of Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto, and the southern regions of Calabria and Sicily, which are experiencing high covid-19 rates.

In these five zones, it will not be possible to leave the region except for proven reasons for work, health or necessity from 10 to 15 January.

In addition, restaurants, bars and food providers will be open only for take-away or home delivery.

The rest of the country will remain in the yellow zone, the lowest risk of three levels, but will adhere to a nationwide curfew between 10pm and 5am.

SWEDEN

The Swedish Parliament approved an emergency temporary law that will authorize the government to close stores and shopping centers and suspend public transportation according to the severity of the pandemic.

The new legislation, which will be in force from Sunday until September, allows for opening hours and capacity limits in public places, sports and cultural facilities, restaurants, cinemas, zoos or gyms.

Sweden, which has opted for a more lax approach towards the pandemic and is the most affected of the Nordic countries, did not have legal underpinning for such restrictions, although it has imposed some by resorting to laws such as public order.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren, hoped that the closure of establishments would come as a last resort, adding that the intention is to be able to set partial measures with flexibility to prevent the spread of the contagion. EFE

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