Europe at high risk from COVID-19 as countries tighten restrictions

Europe closes the year in a generalized situation of high risk due to the high contagion of coronavirus driven by the omicron variant of COVID-19, while governments tighten restrictions and urge prudence in celebrations.

With the exception of Romania, hit hard in the fall by the previous wave of COVID-19, the rest of Europe You are at high or very high risk, according to the latest data updated by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Eighteen of the thirty countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), including Spain, have a cumulative incidence of more than 500 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, which is equivalent to the highest level, represented by the dark red color, on the weekly ECDC maps.

Another eight – Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Poland – have regions at a very high level and others at a high level (red), which means that the incidence is between 200 and 499 cases per 100,000 inhabitants or between 75 and 200 but with a test positivity rate higher than 4%.

Bulgaria and Latvia appear completely in red on the ECDC map, which collects data collected up to last Tuesday, while Romania, which was heavily affected by covid-19 in autumn, is almost entirely in orange with two exceptions: Bucharest, in red; and the southern region of Oltenia, in green (low contagion).

The map reflects the reality of a continent in which many countries have reported daily contagion records in recent weeks, although the effect of vaccines has caused hospital pressure to be contained and mortality to remain at lower rates than a year ago .

COVID-19 masks and passport

The fear of the omicron variant, more contagious but apparently less severe, has led most governments to increase restrictions by expanding the use of the COVID-19 passport and masks and limiting meetings, especially with a view to New Year’s Eve.

Thus, Germany, which keeps the incidence of new cases contained, will not allow private meetings of more than ten people (not counting those under 14 years of age) in the case of those vaccinated, while for the non-immunized the limit remains at two.

In Spain, where yesterday the 100,000 new positives were exceeded for the first time in one day, regional policies have been promoted to limit or prohibit large celebrations, while the capacity in professional outdoor sports competitions will be reduced to 75% and, to 50%, in venues interiors.

Portugal already decreed since Christmas Day the closure of nightlife and nurseries, as well as mandatory telework, and in hotels, weddings and baptisms, cultural shows and sports venues it is required to present a negative test even for vaccinated.

The test will also be necessary to enter restaurants on New Year’s Eve, and both that day and the next, meetings of more than ten people on public roads will be prohibited.

In France, where the barrier of 200,000 daily cases has been broken, the government announced this Thursday fines of up to 1,000 euros per employee against companies that fail to comply with the imposition of teleworking at least three days a week and wants to impose the mandatory vaccination pass for restoration, transport and sports facilities.

In Paris, with the incidence soaring above 2,000 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, it will be mandatory from tomorrow to wear a mask outdoors, with a fine of 135 euros for those who do not comply with that order.

Quarantine reduction

In Italy, where infections rose 80.7% at Christmas, urgent measures have been approved due to the fear of paralysis of some activities: as of January 10, the quarantine for those vaccinated for less than four months or with the dose of reinforcement by close contact with a positive.

And the use of the reinforced health certificate (which is obtained if you are vaccinated or have passed the coronavirus), which will be necessary, apart from restaurants and leisure activities, in public transport, hotels, ceremonies or festivals will be expanded. .

With the intention of combining pandemic control and economic balance, several countries, such as the United Kingdom or Spain, have reduced the quarantines to positive from ten to seven days.

In the United Kingdom, also in record numbers of contagion, the mask was imposed in England for days in transport and closed places and it is mandatory to present a COVID-19 certificate for large events, while the autonomous governments of Scotland, Wales and Ireland del Norte have limited meetings and capacity in shows.

“We are not near the end of the pandemic at the moment,” he said in a message posted on social networks by the European office of the World Health Organization (WHO) your Head of Emergencies, Catherine Smallwood.

WHO-Europe has reiterated these days the need to receive the booster dose of the vaccine and measures such as avoiding crowds, ensuring ventilation, maintaining a safe distance, wearing masks when necessary, hand hygiene and staying home if you have symptoms.