Swathes of Italy return to coronavirus lockdown Friday as the resurgent pandemic continued its march through Europe and reached record levels in the United States.

European governments are struggling to contain a fresh wave of the pandemic, which has now infected more than 11 million across the continent
European governments are struggling to contain a fresh wave of the pandemic, which has now infected more than 11 million across the continent AFP / Oli SCARFF

Five coronavirus "red zones" in Italy's north -- plus Calabria in the country's "toe" -- will shutter non-essential businesses, affecting 16 million people.

America recorded a third day in a row with deaths above 1,000, while more than 120,000 infections were uncovered -- smashing a daily record set the day before, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Graphic looking at countries with the highest coronavirus death tolls, and their respective death rates.
Graphic looking at countries with the highest coronavirus death tolls, and their respective death rates. AFP / John SAEKI

Italy had been badly hit by a first wave, with images of swamped hospitals, makeshift morgues and intubated patients shocking the world.

Experts say the country is now in the grip of a second wave after a sharp uptick in contagion numbers, and regions are again warning that intensive care units are filling rapidly.

London pubs serve their last drinks for a month as England prepares to shut down for the second time this year to try and cut coronavirus cases.
London pubs serve their last drinks for a month as England prepares to shut down for the second time this year to try and cut coronavirus cases. AFPTV / Nick McAVANEY

Another 445 new coronavirus deaths were recorded across the country on Thursday, along with 34,505 new cases.

In Italy's financial and fashion capital of Milan, streets have already fallen quiet. "My customers are very scared, very scared," hairdresser Francesco Puccio told AFP.

French police officers control passersby in Nice, during the country's second lockdown aimed at containing the spread of covid-19
French police officers control passersby in Nice, during the country's second lockdown aimed at containing the spread of covid-19 AFP / Valery HACHE

"Last week I only had two clients per day, sometimes even just one, so there's no real advantage for me in staying open. There's nobody out and about anymore, the offices are empty," he said.

Denmark will cull the entire 15 million mink population in the country because of a mutation of Covid-19 already transmitted to 12 people, which threatens the effectiveness of a future vaccine for humans
Denmark will cull the entire 15 million mink population in the country because of a mutation of Covid-19 already transmitted to 12 people, which threatens the effectiveness of a future vaccine for humans Ritzau Scanpix / Mads Claus Rasmussen

Italy's regions follow 56 million people in England who went into a second lockdown on Thursday.

Tourist destinations such as London's Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square were deserted, and normally bustling cities including Manchester and Liverpool fell quiet.

Students attend a class at the Blanquizal Public school during its reopening in Medellin, Colombia
Students attend a class at the Blanquizal Public school during its reopening in Medellin, Colombia AFP / JOAQUIN SARMIENTO

"It's completely dead now," Maria Belkihel, 42, told AFP in London's best-known shopping spot, Oxford Street.

In Denmark, 280,000 people were restricted in the country's northwest after a mutated version of the new coronavirus linked to mink farms was found in humans.

An employee rides a bicycle through a "Sante publique France" warehouse in Marolles, where a billion face masks are being stored as part of the country's strategic national reserve of medical equipment
An employee rides a bicycle through a "Sante publique France" warehouse in Marolles, where a billion face masks are being stored as part of the country's strategic national reserve of medical equipment AFP / François NASCIMBENI

Denmark -- the world's largest exporter of mink fur -- had earlier said it would cull all of its 15-17 million minks.

While not more severe than the normal virus, the mutated version "could pose a risk that future vaccines won't work", Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

The WHO's regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said there had been a Covid-19 "explosion" on the continent as its 11.6 infections surge past Latin America and the Caribbean's 11.4 million.

"We do see an explosion... in the sense it only takes a couple of days to have over the European region an increase of one million cases," he told AFP.

France locked down last week, and the mayor of Paris announced Thursday that stores selling alcohol and food to late-night shoppers will be forced to close at 10 pm to "avoid gatherings".

France recorded 58,046 new cases on Thursday as some prominent doctors warned the lockdown, which allows schools to stay open, will not be enough.

In Sweden -- which has famously refused the mandatory lockdowns seen elsewhere in Europe -- Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he had gone into self-isolation after being in the "vicinity" of someone with Covid-19.

Greece will go back into lockdown from Saturday for three weeks to battle a second wave of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced.

Across Europe and beyond the virus flare-up has brought with it fears about what new lockdowns mean for jobs and already battered businesses.

The Bank of England on Thursday unveiled an extra ?150 billion ($195 billion) in cash stimulus and forecast a deeper coronavirus-induced recession.

In the election-fixated United States, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said more emergency spending will be "essential" to support the economy.

The recent spike in Covid-19 cases is "particularly concerning", Powell told reporters.