Concerns are rising in many countries as people gather in crowds to protest anticoronavirus measures - despite a continued rise in daily new infections.
Thousands Attend Dusseldorf 'Coronavirus Is A Lie' Protest
On Sunday thousands of people attended a protest in Dusseldorf, Germany and called on the government to ease anticoronavirus restrictions.
While organizers said they were expecting around 50,000 people to attend the rally local police were reported saying the number of people may have reached around 10,000 only.
Slogans used during the rally included "End to panic, coronavirus is a lie." Crowds were required to maintain a distance of at least 5 feet but they were not mandated to wear masks.
In photographs from the protest, people were seen not practicing proper social distancing measures. Many didn't follow the 1.5-meter distance rule.
The latest protest in Germany is just one of several rallies that have taken place since COVID-19 started. Previous protests have represented different views about anticoronavirus measures.
As of Sunday, Germany had reported 273,477 confirmed coronavirus cases and 9,470 deaths.
Protesters In Madrid Call For Better Protection
In Madrid, protesters gathered around noon Sunday to call for increased protection against COVID-19 while others said Madrid region president Isabel Díaz Ayuso's administration had made unfair decisions for poorer communities.
The issue about marginalized communities emerged following Ayuso's announcement late last week that the region would be placed in partial lockdown starting this week as part of efforts to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections.
Madrid has 37 affected areas and Ayuso had previously said "the way of life of immigrants" played a part in the spread of the virus. However, protesters claimed otherwise.
In a joint manifesto, protesters said the Madrid government "opted for stigmatization, exclusion and territorial discrimination."
Some of the protesters called on Ayuso to resign, accusing her party, the conservative People's Party, of long neglecting important aspects of the region's weaker systems such as health care.
As of Sunday, Madrid had recorded more than 108,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 8,546 deaths linked to the disease.
Israeli Restaurant Owners Smash Plates In Protest of Second Lockdown
Restaurateurs in Israel participated in a widespread demonstration to express their dismay over the second COVID-19 lockdown in the country. The food service industry has been especially hard hit by the pandemic.
Staff and restaurant owners were seen smashing plates in videos posted on social media. The plate-smashing demonstration was carried out in several cities including Tel Aviv and Bat Yam.
The second lockdown is expected to last throughout the High Holy Days in October - depending on government decisions in the coming weeks. It remains to be seen if the restrictions will be eased should a slowing of new daily cases be seen.
Restaurant owner Oleg Bartov said the plate-smashing was "as a sign of solidarity" among restaurateurs who believed that the decision to not allow takeout services would harm the industry.
As of Sunday, Israel had registered 188,427 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,256 deaths.
