France has hit a new daily record of COVID-19 cases after topping 10,000 in one day for the first time.
In Spain, coronavirus cases have soared to 12,000 a day, but the health ministry has said new cases were “stabilising”. Despite that, the country has the highest number of cases in Europe.
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There are fears the UK could also follow the trend as 3,539 new cases were reported on Friday.
However, the number of deaths in all countries do not appear to be rising as steeply and the increased number of infections, experts have said.
France is taking action to reduce the spread with Prime Minister Jean Castex urging authorities in Bordeaux, Marseille and the island of Guadeloupe to introduce a “set of new additional measures”.
Mr Castex, who tested negative to COVID-19 and self-isolated anyway after coming into contact with someone who was infected, has said the pandemic in France is “obviously worsening”.
He added: “For the first time in many weeks, we are noting a substantial increase in the number of hospitalised people.”
In addition, spectators have been banned from attending the start and finish of the Tour de France.
In the UK measures have been tightened restricting the number of people who can now meet up in public in a bid to reduce the spread.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, former chief scientific adviser Sage member Sir Mark Walport, expressed concern that the pandemic was getting worse.
He said: “You’ve only got to look across the Channel to see what’s happening in France, what’s happening in Spain.
“The short answer is the only way to stop the spread of this infection is to reduce the number of people we all come into contact with, that lowers the risk.
“It’s a very, very fine balancing act, it’s very important to get youngsters back to school, people to university, but it means we’re going to have to hold back our contacts in other areas.”
