Stagnant vaccination and relaxation cause spike in COVID-19 infections in Europe

The low rate of vaccination and the relaxation of prevention measures are the main causes of the rebound in infections in Europe, which is once again at the epicenter of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Germany

In Germany, a new daily maximum of new infections with coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic was registered this Friday for the second consecutive day, with 37,120 new infections in 24 hours, more than 3,000 cases more than a day ago. The cumulative incidence in seven days has skyrocketed to 169.9 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.

Experts consider the situation worrisome and fear that serious cases and deaths will continue to increase if measures such as the use of a mask, distancing, reducing contacts and ventilation do not lead to a significant reduction in infections.

The Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, reiterated this Friday that to stop the fourth wave of the pandemic it is necessary that the soda vaccine is available to everyone who requests it.

Russia

In Russia, the week of paid holidays decreed by the Government from October 28 to November 7 to stop the advance of the pandemic concludes with figures of daily infections exceeding 40,000, without an improvement being observed.

The number of deaths per day exceeds a thousand. According to the Worldometer database, Russia is currently the first country in the world with the most daily deaths from coronavirus. Only 60,004,358 people out of 144 million Russians have received at least one dose.

Netherlands

The Netherlands reintroduces social distancing and the mandatory use of masks in closed spaces accessible to the public as of this Saturday, which will be accompanied by the extension of the use of the covid pass to museums, gyms or swimming pools, in addition to the hospitality, cultural and musical events.

The Dutch Government is one of the first Europeans to regain the restrictions, after infections soared in four weeks, already exceeding 10,000 daily positives.

France

In France there has been a rebound in cases for more than a month. Every day there are several dozen deaths (49 were reported this Thursday) and thousands of new positives (9,502 yesterday).

74.4% of the population has completed the vaccination schedule and since September the campaign has begun to administer a booster dose to people over 65 years of age or who have a risk factor for covid. So far, that booster dose has been given to around 2.5 million people out of the 6.8 million likely to receive it.

Italy

In Italy, the epidemic curve continues to grow: 5,900 cases in the last 24 hours compared to 4,800 a week ago and more than 5 million infections since the pandemic began, while the death toll now exceeds 132,000 fatalities.

With these numbers, vaccination continues to be the best weapon of the health authorities, who insist on the need for the population to be immunized because “most of those who become infected” are “unvaccinated” people.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the number of daily COVID-19 infections is around 40,000. Deaths have increased 12.3% in seven days.

Almost 46 million of the 67 million people in the UK have received the full vaccination schedule, while 8.6 million injections have been given with a third booster dose.

Central and Eastern Europe

The Community countries of Central and Eastern Europe currently have infection rates above the average and higher than those of countries such as Spain, Italy or France. The total population rate fully vaccinated is less than 65% on average in the EU.

The number of cases in Austria is at its highest point in a year, with 481 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days.

The authorities are increasing the restrictions, with the obligation to be vaccinated or have passed the disease to go to nightlife venues or events with more than 500 people without an assigned location. Only 62.9% of Austrians are already vaccinated with the full schedule.

Bulgaria is the EU country with the lowest percentage of vaccinated population, 22% and since October 21 has chained nine absolute maximums of daily infections.

Several experts warn that the health system of the poorest country in the EU is on the verge of collapse and there is a shortage of staff to care for COVID patients, of which 90% are not vaccinated.

Croatia has counted almost 7,000 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new peak since the pandemic broke out and almost seven times more than a month ago. Five medical associations have warned of a collapse of the health system and have asked the Government for stricter measures, such as the obligation to be vaccinated, have passed the disease or have a recent negative test to go to closed public spaces or to work.

In the Czech Republic, the daily infection rate has soared to 600 in just one month and is at its highest level since the beginning of April. Deaths due to covid-19 have multiplied by 8 in the last month. 57% of the population has the complete vaccination schedule.

In Hungary, the average number of new cases per day within a week has multiplied by seven for a month and is already at the highest since last April, and deaths are five times more now than at the beginning of October. Vaccination has stalled and currently only 59% of the total population of 9.7 million is fully immunized.

On Tuesday, in view of the worsening situation, the Government declared the mandatory use of masks in public transport.

In Romania the death toll continues to exceed the 400 barrier almost daily, ten times more than in September.

Despite the fact that the night curfew and other restrictions that apply only to the unvaccinated have taken effect in doubling the rate of vaccination, Romania remains, with just over a third, the second EU country to less percentage of population has been vaccinated.

Greece

Greece has been chaining new records of infections for a week, with a new maximum on Thursday, when 6,808 cases were reported in one day, the worst figure of the entire pandemic.

According to Vana Papaevangelu, of the expert committee that advises the Government, more than 80% of intubated patients are not vaccinated or have not completed the regimen, in a country where the inoculation campaign has been stagnant for months at around 60% of the population. (I)