France and Spain both recorded the highest numbers of new cases since April in the past week, while Italy reported its largest increase since May and Germany’s daily rates have doubled in recent weeks.

Yet as the contagion spreads again across the continent, fatalities are rising less dramatically — at least for now.

“Improved access to testing is likely to be the main reason, especially as people become more aware of the symptoms,” said John Ford, a lecturer in public health at the University of Cambridge.

Many of the infections stem from younger people traveling and partying during the summer holidays, and some of those cases have been asymptomatic. Better treatment of the disease and improved procedures for identifying Covid-related deaths also help lower the death toll, Ford said.