Countries across Europe Have seen a surge Coronavirus disease The cases of the past two weeks have prompted governments to implement new restrictions Virus Under control.
As the European continent enters a cold winter, scientists Fear of weakening the combination immunity Vaccination and resuming indoor mixing can put pressure on the health system.
In the summer before that, the infection rate across Europe was very low—many countries almost completely cancelled Covid measures.
Although most parts of Western Europe choose to keep the mandatory indoor masks and vaccine passports, music festivals and large gatherings have been allowed since August.
The travel regulations for EU citizens who have been vaccinated have also been relaxed.
However, with the surge in cases and the colder weather, the shadow of another blockade in many EU countries is approaching.
Here, the standard focuses on their comparison.
Germany reported its highest daily total number of infections since the pandemic began on Thursday, with 50,196 cases recorded.
The country’s acting Minister of Health Jens Spahn (Jens Spahn) said on Friday that it will launch free test kits to curb the increase in cases.
Free tests will be provided from March to offset the slow rollout of the vaccine, and will resume one month after the suspension.
Mr. Span also stated that he supports the requirement that people who are vaccinated must show a negative Covid test when participating in public events.
“We need to do everything we can to break this momentum,” he said.
This situation caused headaches for the German ministers, who refused to consider another nationwide lockdown or the introduction of mandatory vaccination.
The country’s possible new prime minister, Olaf Scholz, announced on Thursday that the governors of Germany’s 16 states will meet with federal officials to discuss a package of new measures.
Covid restrictions are set on a regional basis in Germany, not on a national level. In Saxony, restaurants have already requested vaccine certification-other states are expected to follow suit.
According to a poll conducted by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, more than half of Germans support the introduction of new restrictions to contain a new wave of cases. Two weeks ago, this proportion was only 20%.
According to the latest data, more than 67% of the German population over 12 years of age have received dual vaccines.
Germany reintroduces free testing
/ AFP via Getty ImagesWith the rapid increase in the number of new coronary pneumonia cases and hospitalizations, Austria will become one of the first countries in the world to impose a lockdown on unvaccinated people.
Upper Austria and Salzburg are the two hardest-hit states in the country. The measures will be taken from Monday, and the government expects to expand to other parts of the country shortly thereafter.
Unvaccinated people living in these two states can only leave their homes for specific and necessary reasons, such as seeing a doctor or going to a supermarket. Mandatory jabs will also be introduced for medical staff.
On Thursday, official data showed an infection rate of 760.6 cases per 100,000 people, three times that of neighbouring Germany.
National data shows that approximately 65% of Austria’s population has been fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated citizens who have not recently recovered from the virus have been barred from entering restaurants, hotels and large public gatherings.
Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Alex Schallenberg said on Thursday that it would be unfair if two-thirds of the country’s people lose their freedom while the other part is “hesitant”.
He added: “It’s obvious to me that out of solidarity with those who have not been vaccinated, vaccinated people should not be locked down.”
With the “unvaccinated blockade” coming into effect, tourists walk through the stalls in the Old Town of Salzburg
/ AP/AFP via Getty ImagesLatvia was the first European country to restore the nationwide blockade last month. According to the current lockdown rules, all hotel premises and shops have been closed, and only necessary manufacturing and construction work is allowed to continue.
Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said the country’s health services were “at risk” due to the surge in hospitalizations, blaming the increase in cases on a large part of the population who refused to be vaccinated.
According to the latest data, only 57.2% of the population in the Baltic States have been vaccinated, which is far below the EU average of 76%.
Recent data shows that the lockdown has been working, with cases falling from a peak of 3,206 on October 27 to 1,378 on November 11.
The streets of Riga are empty
/ AFP via Getty ImagesRomania is one of several countries in Eastern Europe that are struggling to cope with a new wave of cases and low vaccine rates.
Health experts have warned the people about the continued hesitation of vaccines due to the erosion of trust in state institutions due to decades of communist rule.
According to trackers in the British Financial Times, only 34% of adults in the country have been fully vaccinated. This is less than half of the EU average.
The country recorded 6,921 new cases and 405 deaths on Wednesday. There are more than 1,800 severely ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
As the country’s health services were on the verge of collapse, four severely ill Covid patients were flown to Italy for treatment. Hundreds of hospitalized patients had to sit in chairs and wait for beds in the intensive care unit.
Romanian hospitals are grappling with a new wave of patients
/ AFP via Getty ImagesPortugal’s vaccine coverage is the highest in Europe, with 86.4% of citizens now fully vaccinated.
Despite the surge in the past two weeks, the rate of cases and hospitalizations is still low. The country’s average total number of infections is 1,119, which is less than one-tenth of the peak number of daily infections exceeding 16,000 in January.
Despite the sharp drop in summer cases, the country cautiously returned to normal conditions and did not fully reopen nightclubs and large gatherings until October 1.
Despite the high vaccination rate and the low number of daily cases, the country retains the mandatory wearing of masks in public places. Anyone who goes to nightclubs or restaurants on weekends must show proof of vaccination.
Portugal has now completely reopened
/ AFP via Getty Images
