BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Thousands of Slovaks protested against the government and its anti-coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, gathering in the capital Bratislava and other cities as the country struggles through a second wave of the pandemic.A surge in COVID-19 infections worse than the first wave is hitting much of Europe, forcing countries back into lockdowns that have curbed business and daily life and put livelihoods at risk - leading to protests in several countries. Slovakia, a country of 5.5 million, has recorded a total of 88,602 coronavirus infections and 557 deaths. On Monday, it registered 1,326 new infections, off from daily peaks above 3,000 seen a few weeks ago. Like others in central Europe, Slovakia has suffered a jump in coronavirus cases since September after it limited the spread better than others during the initial outbreak in March.But the recent surge looks to be on the decline, and the Slovak government has started reopening theatres, cinemas, and fitness centres with capacity restrictions. Public gatherings are still limited, however, retail shops face some curbs and restaurants and many schools remain closed. Zuzana, a 29-year-old protester who declined to give her full name, said the restrictions made no sense for her life. “We just sit at home,” she told Reuters.