The latest on the coronavirus pandemic

Countries across Europe are reporting record high numbers of new Covid-19 cases, as hospitalizations and intensive care admissions climb. Meanwhile, new lockdown restrictions are imposed in some parts of the continent this week. Here is what you need to know:

Greece

Greece will enter a three-week national lockdown starting on Saturday after the country saw almost 10,000 new coronavirus cases in just five days, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced Thursday. He said the exponential increase in coronavirus cases and increase in hospitalizations and patients in ICUs made this drastic measure necessary.

United Kingdom

England's new lockdown began at midnight, with the country struggling to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Across the UK, health authorities have recorded more than 1.1 million coronavirus cases and 47,000 virus-related deaths so far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. It has the fifth-highest number of deaths in the world.

Poland

Poland on Thursday set another daily record for coronavirus infections, with 27,143 new infections in one day and 367 deaths. The total number of infections in Poland has reached 466,679, with the death toll currently at 6,842. On Saturday, Poland will implement further restrictions on schools and businesses to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Germany

Germany has reported 19,990 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the country’s disease control and prevention agency said on Thursday -- its highest single-day tally since the pandemic began. The related death toll also rose by 118, according to the Robert Koch Institute. Germany went into a partial lockdown on Monday with entertainment venues, bars, cafés, and restaurants shutting down, apart from takeout and delivery services.

Czech Republic

In neighboring Czech Republic, the health ministry reported 15,729 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday -- the country's highest single-day increase in cases since the pandemic began. Health authorities also reported 220 more virus-related deaths.

France

As of Wednesday, 4,080 Covid-19 patients were being treated in intensive care units in France, according to data from health officials. The last time there was this number of patients in ICU was in late April.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said France has seen a "considerable escalation" in new coronavirus cases. "France accounted for the third-highest number of new cases globally, with more than 275,000 cases reported in the past week (4,200 cases per million population): that is a 27% increase from the previous week," WHO said Tuesday.

Russia

Russia reported more than 19,000 coronavirus cases for the first time on Wednesday -- a new record for daily increases -- according to the latest data from the country’s coronavirus response center. Russia has recorded a total of 1,693,454 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, with at least 29,217 deaths officially reported by authorities.

China says it will "temporarily" ban travelers from Belgium, India, the Philippines and the UK from entering the country in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The same announcement was made by the Chinese Embassy in the UK on Wednesday and in India and the Philippines on Thursday -- applying to all non-Chinese nationals in both countries.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Thursday that it is a "temporary measure" based on changes in the pandemic.

"China has referred to the practices of many countries and adjusted its approach to relevant people coming to China based on changes in the pandemic situation. This is reasonable and consistent with international practice, and I believe people can understand it," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

The change of seasons usually ushers in predictable cold symptoms many people have grown accustomed to dealing with several times a year. But seasonal sniffles, colds and flu have a harder time spreading when people are social distancing, wearing masks, and following other pandemic protocols.

"It's the fact you're keeping your distance, wearing a mask, washing your hands more, that you're attentive that someone might have the illness and not know it," said Wen, who is a professor of public health at George Washington University.

Wen pointed to Australia's milder flu season during its winter months as further indication that "the same precautions used to protect against coronavirus also reduced instances of the flu."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has noted that Australia had the fewest number of flu cases "in memory" during its winter flu season, from April to September.

Fauci credited the flu shot, wearing masks, avoiding crowds, keeping physically distanced and frequent hand-washing as the actions that may have protected people in the Southern Hemisphere this winter.

"If you look at the data over many years about flu vaccines, they're not perfect," said Fauci, speaking with Washington, DC, radio station WTOP on September 17. "We know from the data that flu shots not only prevent infections; they prevent people who do get infected from getting serious progressive disease sometimes resulting in hospitalization."

If you haven't already gotten your flu shot, the time is now, according to experts. The start of flu season in the Northern Hemisphere is usually November, Wen said, and it's best to get vaccinated before November.

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An English police force issued a statement on Thursday as the country entered a nationwide lockdown, warning the public that breaking restrictions is “unacceptable.”

The lockdown began at midnight, with the country struggling to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“People recklessly ignoring the regulations should expect to receive a fixed penalty notice,” Hewitt added. 

He said a minority of people had ignored the rules throughout the pandemic, but assured that police would “continue to engage with people proportionately, fairly and with common sense."

Total case count: The UK has recorded more than 1.1 million coronavirus cases and 47,000 virus-related deaths so far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. It has the fifth-highest number of deaths in the world.

South Korean officials announced new Covid-19 restrictions for two cities in South Chungcheong Province on Thursday, as cases continue to rise.

The two cities have reported 78 confirmed cases in the past week from public facilities like bath houses, karaoke centers and bars. The number of infections is expected to grow as more family members and colleagues of confirmed cases contract the virus, according to a statement issued by the province. 

Stricter regulations are effective Thursday starting 6 p.m. local time. Fewer people will be allowed into various indoor facilities, and eating food will be banned in high-risk places.

The Czech Republic reported 15,729 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, according to its health ministry -- the country's highest single-day increase in cases since the pandemic began.

Health authorities also reported 220 more virus-related deaths

The new figures raise the country's total number of cases to 378,716, with 4,133 related deaths.

See CNN's live tracker of cases worldwide:

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The Indian capital New Delhi is experiencing a third wave of Covid-19 cases, according to the city's chief minister. 

The city reported 6,842 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday -- its highest 24-hour rise in Covid-19 infections for the second day in a row, according to the New Delhi Health Department. The day before, the city reported 6,725 new cases.

New Delhi's total case count is now 409,938. Of this total, 37,369 patients are still active cases.

India recorded 50,210 fresh cases on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health said -- taking the country’s total to 8.36 million cases and 124,315 related deaths.

The United States recorded 102,831 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. 

It marked the first time the country's daily new cases reached six figures -- and is the highest single-day jump in infections since the pandemic began.

The US also recorded 1,097 more coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday.

Weekly high: It comes after the country reported more than 600,000 new cases in a week for the first time, as experts warn that the surge in infections could continue to worsen as winter arrives.

The US has now reported a total of 9.48 million confirmed cases and more than 233,000 related deaths.

CNN is tracking US cases live:

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Germany has reported 19,990 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the country’s disease control and prevention agency said on Thursday -- its highest single-day tally since the pandemic began.

The related death toll also rose by 118, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Germany has now reported 597,583 total cases and 10,930 related deaths, according to RKI.