⁍ French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown on Wednesday.

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⁍ Under the new French measures which come into force on Friday, people will be required to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or exercise for up to one hour a day.

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⁍ Germany will shut bars, restaurants and theatres from Nov. 2-30 under measures agreed between Merkel and heads of regional governments.

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– “We are all in the same position: overrun by a second wave which we know will be harder, more deadly than the first.” That’s how French President Emmanuel Macron described the coronavirus that has swept across Europe, killing at least 11 people, as he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced new lockdowns Wednesday, Reuters reports. Under the new measures, which go into effect Friday, people will be forced to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or exercise for up to an hour a day; schools will stay open; and bars, restaurants, and theaters will be closed. “We need to take action now,” Merkel said. “Our health system can still cope with this challenge today, but at this speed of infections it will reach the limits of its capacity within weeks.” In Germany, the measures will go into effect Nov. 2-30; France will do the same starting Friday. The first wave of coronavirus was traced to the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year. So far, more than 42 million cases and more than 1.1 million deaths have been recorded worldwide from the virus, which was first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year. In the United States, a new wave of infections has been setting records with six days to go until Election Day. President Trump has played down the virus and shows no sign of canceling public rallies where his supporters often refuse to wear masks or keep a safe distance. European stock markets closed at their lowest levels since late May.