Europe is suffering a strong rebound in coronavirus cases which has led some countries to regain tough restrictions to stop this new wave.
One of the causes behind this increase in infections and serious cases is the low percentages of vaccination. And it is that, while in Spain it already has 90% of the target population vaccinated, in the Netherlands only 70% have the complete guideline. A percentage that falls to 67% in Germany and up to 64% in the case of Austria.
A situation that can be worsened with the arrival of Christmas, a time full of family gatherings, social celebrations and crowds in city centers. For this reason, in Europe they are beginning to shield themselves to try to avoid “a terrible Christmas”, as the German Executive has warned.
Home confinement
The Austrian authorities have opted for home confinement, the toughest measure to curb infections. So, as of Monday Upper Austria and Salzburg will have to close all their non-essential establishments and shops and its population will only be able to leave home to go shopping, to work or for other causes of force majeure. This confinement will last three or four weeks.
According to the ‘ORF’ chain, this measure must receive the approval of the National Council and can open the door for more federal states to carry it out in their territories if they consider it necessary.
The measure has been well received in the federal government, with Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein applauding that “the federal states most affected by the fourth wave apply the emergency brake.” Precisely, this Thursday the country again recorded a record of daily cases, reporting more than 15,100 cases in the last 24 hours, while the incidence continues to skyrocket and is already in 989 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Mandatory vaccination
Germany has opted for measures that promote vaccination among its population. The Government already requests the COVID certificate in all establishments and raises oblige professionals in the most sensitive sectors -who are in contact with vulnerable people- to be immunized against the coronavirus. In this sense, Angela Merkel has warned that they are in a “very serious situation” and these measures would not be necessary “if the vaccination gap were not so great.”
The Länder were already demanding “drastic” restrictions, such as mandatory vaccination, to try to get to Christmas with a more relaxed health situation. Until now, the Merkel Executive had maintained voluntary vaccination and will have to draft a bill that makes it possible to apply this measure.
The pattern of action, from now on, will be determined by the rate of hospitalizations. Currently, it is at 5.1 per 100,000 inhabitants and in some states critical care units are in an extreme situation. In fact, two patients have had to be transferred to northern Italy for treatment.
Thus, if level 3 is exceeded, as is already the case in part of the country, only those vaccinated or those who have just overcome the disease will be able to access bars, restaurants and other closed public spaces. From level 6, they will be required to also present a negative test and, if the threshold of the level 9, will be passed to drastic measures, including the closure of public life.
Extension of holidays to reduce infections
In the Netherlands, for the moment, they are betting on more relaxed measures because they have a somewhat higher percentage of vaccination. On the table they have put the possibility of increase christmas holidays in schools to reduce COVID-19 infections.
In addition, the central Executive has ordered the closure of non-essential activities, such as bars, restaurants and stores that do not sell food or basic necessities, from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
