In photos: Inside Europe's intensive care units amid second COVID-19 wave

Alarm bells are ringing in Europe as a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic has sent infections soaring to record levels in several countries.

A doctor at Strasbourg's university hospital is seen donning protective clothes while attending a training for new staff to reinforce ICU regular crews who face a second wave of patients suffering from COVID-19 in Strasbourg, France, Nov. 13, 2020.

Pressed into action, governments across the continent have reimposed lockdowns of varying severity, but the situation still seems to be spiraling.

A medical staff member wearing a protective suit and gloves works in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from COVID-19 are treated at a hospital in Vannes, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

Among the measures taken are early closing hours for cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as reverting to remote working and distance education models.

A patient suffering from COVID-19 is treated by a physiotherapist in the intensive care unit at a hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Vannes, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A medical worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) takes care of a patient at the intensive care unit of the George Papanikolaou General Hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Thessaloniki, Greece, Nov. 11, 2020.

A nurse treats a patient suffering from the coronavirus disease at the COVID-19 isolation ward of DRK Kliniken Berlin Mitte hospital in Berlin, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.

A medical staff member works in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from COVID-19 are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A medical worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) takes care of a patient at the intensive care unit of the George Papanikolaou General Hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thessaloniki, Greece, Nov. 11, 2020.

Medical workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) take care of a patient at the intensive care unit of the George Papanikolaou General Hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thessaloniki, Greece, Nov. 11, 2020.

Medical workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) take care of a patient at the intensive care unit of the George Papanikolaou General Hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thessaloniki, Greece, Nov. 11, 2020.

A patient suffering from COVID-19 is treated in the intensive care unit of the Maggiore di Lodi hospital, in Lodi, Italy, Nov. 13, 2020.

Medical staff members work in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from COVID-19 are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

Medical staff members move a patient suffering from COVID-19 in a plane during a transfer operation from Lille-Lesquin airport in France to Munster airport in Germany, Nov. 10, 2020.

Medical staff members move a patient suffering from COVID-19 into a plane during a transfer operation from Lille-Lesquin airport in France to Munster airport in Germany, Nov. 10, 2020.

A physiotherapist holds the hand of a patient suffering from COVID-19 in the intensive care unit at a hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Vannes, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A medical crew from Strasbourg's university hospital carries a patient suffering from COVID-19 on a stretcher after his transfer by a helicopter of the French civil security (Securite Civile) from Lyon to Strasbourg, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

Therapist Catia Jesus holds the hand of a patient inside a COVID-19 ICU at Santa Maria hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 30, 2020.

A doctor at Strasbourg's university hospital is seen taking a break to wash her hands while attending a training for new staff to reinforce ICU regular crews who face a second wave of patients suffering from COVID-19 in Strasbourg, France, Nov. 13, 2020.

Medical staff members work in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from COVID-19 are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A medical staff member works in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from COVID-19 are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

Medical staff members work in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from COVID-19 are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A physiotherapist holds the hand of a patient suffering from COVID-19 in the intensive care unit at the hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Vannes, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A patient suffering from COVID-19 lies on his chest in the intensive care unit where patients suffering from the COVID-19 are treated at Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

A patient suffering from COVID-19 is treated in the intensive care unit at a hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Vannes, France, Nov. 12, 2020.

Medical workers are seen treating patients suffering from COVID-19 in the shock room of the Maggiore di Lodi hospital, in Lodi, Italy, Nov. 13, 2020.