Covid: How are European countries tackling the pandemic?

Europe's response to the coronavirus pandemic varies from country to country, depending on the rates of infection.

Many countries started 2021 with earlier curfews, stay-at-home orders and other measures to fight the new peaks in infections and deaths, while a few others eased some of the earlier restrictions.

France has had a curfew in place since December which restricted movement between 20:00 and 06:00, but this was tightened on 16 January, with a new national curfew from 18:00. Shops and businesses must close by then and everyone must be at home.

Schools are open with extra testing in place.

France closed its borders to all non-EU countries from 31 January, although hauliers are exempt.

Bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and ski resorts remain shut.

Non-essential shops, as well as hairdressers, schools, restaurants, bars and leisure centres remain closed.

Private meetings are limited to one other person from a separate household.

A new rule, introduced in January, bans people from wearing homemade cloth masks or scarves as face coverings in shops and on public transport. "Clinical masks", such as single-use surgical masks or filtering face-piece respirators (known as FFP2 masks) are now required.

The measures will be in place until at least 14 February.

Greece has been in a strict lockdown since November, when it imposed a curfew between 21:00 and 05:00 and shut shops, nurseries, and primary and secondary schools.

A strict lockdown since November helped to contain a new surge in infections and, in January, nurseries and primary schools, as well as shops, were allowed to reopen.

But on 29 January, a new stricter lockdown was announced for "red zones" - areas with high infection rates, including Athens. Secondary schools in those area will remain shut. In the rest of the country, they are allowed to reopen.

Shops in the "red zones" can stay open but customers have to shop online or over the phone, and pick up the items from the store at an arranged time.

In Athens, the 21:00 to 05:00 curfew remains in place, while in other red zones the curfew start at 18:00.

A nationwide curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 remains in place, travel between Italy's 20 regions is banned until 15 February, and mask-wearing is mandatory in public, both indoors and outdoors, across the nation.

The northern region of Lombardy is among areas in the highest (red) tier, with only essential shops allowed to open and everything else closed. But bars and restaurants in 15 out of 20 Italian regions are now again allowed to serve customers at tables and counters until 18:00.

High school students have been allowed to return to normal lessons, although they are divided into groups and full classroom occupancy is not allowed. Remote learning has been in place since October.

Spain is under a nationwide curfew until early May 2021.

People are only allowed out in that period to go to work, for education, to buy medicine, or care for elderly people or children.

Anyone aged over six must wear a face covering on public transport and in indoor public spaces nationwide. They are also compulsory outdoors in many regions.

Belgium's lockdown has been extended until 1 March. All non-essential travel is banned until then.

A maximum of one person is allowed to visit your home (always the same person) and, for meetings outside, the rule of four remains in place.

Schools and shops are open but people must shop alone and stay in any shop for no more than 30 minutes.

Masks must be worn everywhere.

Mainland Portugal entered a new lockdown on 15 January, for the first time since early May.

Remote working is compulsory, non-essential shops and services must close and cafes and restaurants are limited to takeaways and home deliveries only.

This time, however, schools are staying open.

The lockdown is expected to last at least a month, but it will be reviewed after two weeks.

Dutch lockdown measures will continue until at least 9 February.

All non-essential shops, cinemas, hairdressers, gyms and schools are closed.

The government advises against booking any trips abroad until at least 31 March.

Denmark has extended its lockdown, imposed in December, until 7 February.

All shops and other businesses will remain closed apart from supermarkets and pharmacies.

Restrictions include the closure of schools and universities, and home-working for most people.

A maximum of five people can meet in a public space and and face masks are mandatory in indoor public areas.

Ireland returned to a full lockdown at the end of December, after rules on travelling were relaxed over Christmas.

The highest level of restrictions - level five - are currently in place.

People have to stay at home except for travel for work, education or other essential reasons, or to exercise within 5km (3.1 miles) of home.

No visitors are allowed in private homes or gardens unless it is for care of children, elderly or vulnerable. Weddings are limited to six people and funerals to 10.

All non-essential shops, gyms, pools and leisure facilities are closed. Restaurants, pubs and cafes can provide takeaways and deliveries only.

Sweden had avoided imposing rules in this crisis, but on 10 January, a new emergency law came into effect.

It gave the government the power to impose coronavirus-related curbs for the first time.

Until now, the Swedish government has relied mostly on the public following official health recommendations voluntarily.

There is a ban on alcohol sales after 20:00, and in restaurants a maximum of four people can sit at a table.

No more than eight people are allowed at public gatherings or events.

Public bathhouses, sports halls and museums must stay closed until at least 7 February.

Non-essential travel from the UK, Denmark and Norway, has been banned until 14 February.