The most obvious change since The Local's early January charts overview, has been the dramatic decline in daily new confirmed cases in the UK since the end of the first week of January, partly following the lockdown imposed on January 6th and perhaps also showing early effects from the rapid vaccination rollout.
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland have all also reported declines from their second wave peaks, while France and Spain are the only two countries covered by The Local's network so far to have experienced a rise in infections since January.
This perhaps reflects France's decision to come out of lockdown relatively early on December 15th, and Spain's decision not to impose a second lockdown at all.
France has sought to keep down rates with a 6pm nationwide curfew and the continued closure of restaurants, bars and other venues. French President Emmanuel Macron has so far resisted imposing a third national lockdown despite pressure from hospital chiefs whose wards and intensive care units are being stretched once again.
In Italy a nationwide curfew is still in effect from 10 pm to 5 am and travel between regions is prohibited, but restaurants and bars are allowed to open until 6 pm.
Spain saw a surge in infections at the start of the year, with health officials blaming an easing of restrictions over the Christmas holidays.
Since then, the incident rate has started to come down as regional governments, which are in charge of health care, have cracked down.
Measures imposed include 10 pm curfews, the closure of bars and restaurants and bans on leaving or entering a region. The restrictions have helped to flatten the virus curve.
When you compare the infection rate to the size of population, the chart (as seen below) looks slightly different.
The high number of cases per capita Sweden suffered at the start of January stands out, as does the rapid decline in cases after the government imposed its toughest restrictions yet, with distance learning for 13-year-olds and up, and a new pandemic law empowering the government to fine shops and gyms for the first time.
The per capita chart also highlights the extent of the third wave in Portugal – which saw cases rocket upwards in January — and in Spain, which recorded more cases per capita at the end of January than it did even at the peak of its second wave in November.
Denmark, which peaked a few weeks earlier on December 20th, has seen the number of cases fall from one of the highest to one of the lowest per capita rates in Europe, after the lockdown imposed on Christmas Day was extended due to fears about the UK and South African Covid-19 variants.
Germany, where the second wave peaked a few weeks before the UK on Christmas Eve, shows a more gentle decline, with a short post-Christmas bump in case numbers.
Almost everything has been closed in Germany apart from essential shops since December, households are only supposed to meet with one other person and most schools are closed.
Despite the declining rates, the government is likely to extend most measures until mid-March out of fear of the UK and South African Covid-19 variants.
As the high level of testing in Denmark and Austria, makes the other countries bunch together on the charts, here's a chart with the two leading countries removed.
Here you can see France's strong performance, with a surge in testing around Christmas, and also high levels of testing in Spain, reflecting the country's third wave.
Germany, which briefly led Europe in testing in April, now tests a lower share of its population than any other country covered by The Local's network.
9. Positivity rate of tests
Maybe now that we know Berset hid critical information, he can be forced to resign and Switzerland will improve. The vaccine rollout has not been good – is this Berset’s fault also?