British travellers returning home from parts of Europe and beyond began having to quarantine on Saturday under new restrictions, while Russia said it had produced the first batch of its controversial coronavirus vaccine.
The UK opted to remove France, the Netherlands, Malta and three other countries from its list of places exempt from self-isolation rules, as a second wave of virus infections threatens more disruption and economic chaos on the continent.
The move, announced late Thursday, sparked a 36-hour scramble for plane, train and ferry tickets among some Britons desperate to get back home before the rule change.
All arrivals from the blacklisted states after the deadline must self-quarantine for 14 days, with the measure already in place for people coming from several other countries including Spain and Belgium.
A man greets his daughter after arriving in London on a Eurostar train from Paris on 14 August. Source: AAP
French student Antoine, 23, cut short his holiday to rush back to Bristol, in southwestern England, where he is at university.
"I'm a waiter in a small cafe near college, I can't afford to spend 14 days in the house," he said at London's St Pancras railway station after arriving on a Eurostar train.
Eurotunnel reported roaring business.
"The Le Shuttle Passenger Service carried almost 30 percent more leisure traffic yesterday than its initial forecast, adding 22 extra departures to the peak summer timetable carrying over 30,000 passengers," a statement said Saturday.
"Additional staff were also on hand to speed customers through the terminal and onto the Shuttles, helping Eurotunnel to carry 11,600 vehicles back in time."
France is facing a resurgence of the disease that emerged in China late last year and has so far infected over 21 million people globally and killed more than 760,000.
French authorities have reported more than 2,500 new cases on each of the past four days, over 3,000 on Saturday - levels not seen since May when the country emerged from lockdown.
With cases still rising around the world, Moscow said the first consignments of its had been produced, just four days after President Vladimir Putin announced Russia had won the global race to approve a vaccine.
The claim has drawn a sceptical response from Western scientists and the World Health Organisation, which have said the vaccine still needs a rigorous safety review.
A scientist works on the production of a new two-vector COVID-19 vaccine in Moscow on 06 August. Source: AAP
France vows tit-for-tat move
France has vowed to impose a "reciprocal measure" on Britain's quarantine move, leaving French holidaymakers set to face tough choices in the coming days.
The Netherlands said it would advise against all but essential travel to the UK, but will not introduce self-isolation measures for arrivals.
Germany added most of Spain - where cases have surged in recent weeks - to its list of regions from where arrivals must show a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for two weeks.
The restrictions include the island of Mallorca, a highly popular resort for German sunseekers.
Austria urged its citizens to return from popular Mediterranean destination Croatia before similar rules come into effect Monday, while Serbia introduced mandatory testing for travellers from four neighbouring countries.
A family wearing face masks walk past the Louvre Museum in Paris on 15 August. Source: AAP
The United States also said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout most of September to slow the spread of the disease.
'Promising' vaccines
However several countries announced an easing of lockdown measures on Saturday.
South Africa said it would resume sales of alcohol and cigarettes - banned on 27 March - on Monday, while Brazil reopened major tourist sites in Rio de Janeiro, including the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city, after five months.
DR Congo opened up its airspace Saturday after five months with a flight from Kinshasa taking off for the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
Malta meanwhile posted its highest ever one-day rise in coronavirus cases on Saturday with 72 new infections.
Hopes to break the cycle of outbreaks and lockdowns decimating economies have turned to a vaccine, with Britain announcing it has secured access to another 90 million doses of two "promising" vaccines.
Soldiers of the Brazilian army disinfect the Cristo Redentor monument to reopen the tourist spot, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 13 August. Source: AAP
And Washington said it would distribute any inoculation proven to be effective to all Americans for free.
Mexico announced it and Argentina aim to have a vaccine available for Latin America - now the region with the worst virus toll and most cases - early next year under a production agreement with drug giant AstraZeneca.
Elsewhere, of infections and extended a lockdown of its largest city Auckland by at least 12 days, after officials detected a variant of the virus previously unseen in the country.
South Korea tightened restrictions in Seoul and its surrounding areas as the country reported the highest number of new daily infections since March.
But in the US - which has more registered infections than any other country in the world - museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions in New York will be allowed to reopen later this month following a five-month shutdown.
People gather in a bar to drink a coffee while pedestrians walk past wearing face masks in Pamplona, northern Spain, on 15 August. Source: AAP
Meanwhile, about 5,000 pilgrims attended the annual Assumption mass in the underground basilica in France's Lourdes Roman Catholic shrine Saturday - with strict health measures in place.
"It's weird. There aren't many people this year," said Michel Clavel, a retired 66-year-old truck driver, who comes every year for the pilgrimage which usually attracts about 250,000 worshippers.
Face coverings have became compulsory in entire districts of the French capital, including large sections of central Paris, while Denmark said it will make them mandatory on public transport across the country from 22 August.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
