Governments across Europe have announced new restrictions this week as several countries report record coronavirus case numbers, but they're avoiding imposing nationwide lockdowns.

Why it matters: Widespread lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus have devastated economies around the world.

The big picture: German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Thursday new measures, including a curfew for restaurants and bars in coronavirus hot spots and a limit on gatherings, after the country reported a record 6,638 new infections, per DW.

• "I am convinced that what we do now will be decisive for how we come through this pandemic," she said. "We are already in a phase of exponential growth, the daily numbers show that."

In France, President Emmanuel Macron announced in a televised address Wednesday a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. would be imposed on the Paris region,Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Montpellier, Grenoble, Rouen and Saint-Étienne.

• "We need to put a brake on the spread of the virus," Macron said, confirming that the curfew that starts Saturday would remain in place for at least four weeks.
• "We are going to have to deal with this virus until at least the summer of 2021."

In the United Kingdom, the British government has imposed a three-tier alert system on several cities, with Liverpool the first city to face the toughest restrictions that has seen bars that don't serve food closed.

• The U.K. reported a record of nearly 20,000 new infections Wednesday.

Russia also registered a record 14,231 new cases Wednesday, but officials were focusing on touting a coronavirus vaccine developed by the country, the New York Times reports.

• (NIAID director Anthony Fauci and other leading scientists have cast doubt on the vaccine's effectiveness.)

Italy on Wednesday surpassed its record number of cases with 7,332 new infections.

• Health officials announced Tuesday new measures including mandatory seating in restaurants and bars after 9 p.m., a mandatory midnight closing time for venues and a ban on outdoor and indoor private parties, Forbes notes.

Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced gatherings would be limited to five people and declared a "state of calamity," as the country confirmed more than 2,000 cases in a single day for the first time, Anadolou Agency reports.

The Czech government on Wednesday announced household guests must be limited to three people, alcohol could not be sold after 8 p.m. and there would be a "wider mandatory use of face masks," per AFP.

• On Thursday, the country's health ministry confirmed a record 9,544 new cases, the Guardian notes.

Why it matters: Widespread lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus have devastated economies around the world.