Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Western Europe Scrambling to Avoid National Lockdowns

Jamie Dettmer

   FRANKFURT - Western European states are scrambling to curb a second
   coronavirus wave of infections by re-imposing pandemic restrictions
   lifted just weeks or months ago. But their governments say they are
   determined to avoid further stressing their stricken economics by
   re-introducing national lockdowns.

   The big question is whether this will be possible.

   From Britain, which has banned social gatherings of more than six and
   is threatening punitive fines for transgressors, to Spain, where Madrid
   is now under lockdown, authorities are struggling to contain alarming
   second-wave surges while keeping schools open and encouraging people
   still to head to work.

.