Second wave hits Europe! Germany, France, Italy & Spain see their highest number of coronavirus infections

Germany, France, Italy and Spain have seen their highest number of coronavirus infections in months, raising concerns that a second wave could be hitting the continent.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, while authorities in France say 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating'. 

Meanwhile Spain has recorded a new single-day record for Covid-19 cases since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June. 

The daily record of new cases in Germany is just over 6,000, registered in early April. Ten new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 9,253. 

France recorded more than 3,700 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. French officials have confirmed nearly 30,500 deaths from COVID-19, seventh highest in the world. 

Meanwhile Italy on Wednesday recorded the sharpest increase in coronavirus cases since late May, the health ministry said, after 642 new coronavirus infections were reported in 24 hours. 

The total number of Italian cases recorded since the start of the pandemic is now 255,278, while the death toll stands at 35,412. 

Spain's Health Ministry says 3,715 coronavirus infections have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June. With 136 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the past two weeks, Spain tops the European chart of the highest cumulative incidence. 

It's one of the main indicators closely monitored by epidemiologists.