Chicago MayorLori Lightfoot announces a new restrictions banning indoor service for bars without a food license and impose non-essential business curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. CT for two weeks from tomorrow. In addition, all liquor sales at all establishments must end at 9 p.m. and all Chicagoans should refrain from gatherings of more than six people or any social gatherings after 10 p.m. (Chicago Tribune)
It is announced that the Canadian government and Alberta are launching a pilot program to test eligible returning travelers for COVID-19, allowing them to leave quarantine in two days once they receive a negative result instead of a normal two-week quarantine. The move could potentially bring relief to the country's struggling airline and tourism industries. Starting November 2, the new testing option will be offered at the Coutts land border crossing in southern Alberta and Calgary International Airport. (CBC)
Prime MinisterJean Castex announces that 38 more departments, as well as French Polynesia, will be placed under curfew starting October 24. In total, 54 departments will now adhere to the new hourly limitations between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time, affecting almost 46 million people in these areas. (BBC News)
The number of new confirmed cases in France hits an alarming record high of 41,622 in the last 24 hours, making it the first time the country has reported more than 40,000 new cases. (Anadolu Agency)
The number of new confirmed cases in Greece hits a record high of 882 in the past 24 hours, making it the highest number in a single day since the pandemic began, bringing the cumulative total to 28,216. (Greek Reporter)
Prime MinisterKyriakos Mitsotakis announces new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. These measures include the "compulsory" use of masks both indoors and outdoors and imposition of a curfew between 12:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. local time in all areas deemed as high-risk zones, including Athens and Thessaloniki, starting October 24. (Medical Xpress)
Portugal reports a record daily increase with 3,270 new cases, bringing the cumulative counts to 109,541 confirmed cases and 2,245 deaths. (DGS)
Portugal announces that tomorrow, the municipalities of Felgueiras, Lousada, and Paços de Ferreira will go into a partial lockdown, which means that people will only be able to leave home for work, school, or other essential activities. In addition, visits to care homes will be banned, events can only be attended by a maximum of five people, and commercial outlets must close by 10:00 p.m. local time. (National Post)
The number of new confirmed cases in Austria surges to a record 2,435 in the past 24 hours, making it the highest single-day increase since the pandemic began. (Hindustan Times)
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, Germany has recorded more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day, when the Robert Koch Institute reported 11,287 new infections in 24 hours. (France 24)
Italy reports a record high in new infections, topping 16,000 daily cases for the first time since the start of the pandemic. According to data from the Health Ministry, the nationwide total has reached 465,726 cases. (Daily Sabah)
Prime MinisterIgor Matovič announces that Slovakia will shut down most of its schools and require the population to stay home apart from work, essential shopping, and nature trips between October 24 and November 1, in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. He also plans to go ahead with nationwide free testing of 5.5 million people across the country. (Yahoo News)
The Health Ministry reports a record high of 20,986 new cases in Spain in the last 24 hours and put the cumulative 14-day incidence rate at 349 infections per 100,000 inhabitants. (El Pais in English)
On the first day of Durga Puja, West Bengal records its highest single-day spike of 4,157 new cases in the past 24 hours as doctors warn that the number could rise massively given a large number of gatherings in markets, shopping malls, and restaurants. (The Week)
Morocco's Ministry of Health reports 4,151 new cases in the past 24 hours. This is the highest number of reported infections in a single day, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 186,731. (Morocco World News)
Authorities announce the May arrest of a 19-year-old man from Kannapolis, North Carolina, who had allegedly been plotting to kill Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, after police towed his van and recovered firearms and explosives from it. He is being charged with possession of child pornography in relation to video and images later found in his electronic devices. (WTVD)(WGHP)
The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland rules that abortions in cases of fetal defects are unconstitutional. Once the decision comes into effect, terminations will only be allowed in cases of rape or incest, or if the mother's health is at risk. Poland's abortion laws were already among the strictest in Europe. (BBC News)