Covid Europe, fourth wave expands: lockdowns and measures

The fourth wave of Covid expands to Europe. Almost 2 million Covid infections reported last week and today the epidemiological picture continues to worsen: the situation is considered “very worrying” in 10 countries. So amidst restrictions, new lockdowns and measures for the unvaccinated, governments try to contain the spread of new infections. Read also According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) the worst situation is in Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia. The best countries are Italy, Malta, Spain and Sweden. Meanwhile, WHO reports “nearly 2 million Covid infections last week, the maximum in a single week since the start of the pandemic” and warns: “Vaccines do not replace the need for other precautions”. GERMANY, ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE ASKS MORE RESTRICTIONS Against the fourth wave of covid infections, new restrictions are needed in Germany, wide restrictions on public life to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus. This is the ” urgent ” appeal that comes from the Robert Koch Institute (Rki), the institute in charge of monitoring the progress of the pandemic in Germany, after having recorded a record incidence of Covid-19 on 236.7 people every 100 thousand. The health institute asks that ” major events be canceled or banned where possible ”. And that “all other non-essential contacts are reduced”. From today, free Covid-19 tests will be reintroduced in Germany, with more than 4.9 million coronavirus cases confirmed in Germany since the outbreak of the health crisis. In the last 24 hours, 48,640 infections have been confirmed, while 191 people have lost their lives due to complications.Anyone who goes to Germany from Austria will be considered, from tomorrow, “ at high risk ” coronavirus, said the minister of the German Health Jens Spahn at a press conference. Furthermore, those who have not completed the vaccination process against Covid-19 or those who have not recovered from the disease will have to respect a 14-day quarantine. The government of Vienna will decide tomorrow on the possibility of imposing a national lockdown starting from Monday for those who have not been vaccinated against covid, about 35% of the population. “There must be no solidarity with the unvaccinated,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Health Wolfgang Mueckstein confirmed that on Sunday the proposal of mandatory vaccination for those working in the health sector will also be on the table. On Sunday, the federal government will meet with both state governors and the National Council committee, public broadcaster Orf reports. The Chancellor insisted on the need for measures at the national level, rejecting the hypothesis of a “general” closure for the entire population. Meanwhile, Mueckstein gives for certain the confinement of the unvaccinated in the regions of Upper Austria and in Salzburg, where the greatest number of infections is occurring.Country of almost nine million inhabitants, Austria is facing a new wave of infections that some days is around 10 thousand every 24 hours. Deaths are daily in their 20s, a figure that hasn’t been seen since May. Since the start of the pandemic, Austria has recorded 923,000 infections and 11,600 deaths from covid-19 IN DENMARK THE GREEN PASS RETURNS FOR BARS, RESTAURANTS AND DISCOS Two months after lifting all restrictions, Denmark returns to impose the green pass to curb covid-19 infections. Starting today, the green passport will again be required to enter bars, restaurants and discos, but also to participate in major events. The green pass is used to prove that the owner is vaccinated, cured of the covid or negative for a recent test. Only residents under 15 are exempt. The Danish government had lifted all restrictions against covid, including the obligation to mask, on 10 September, relying on the high vaccination rate and low circulation of the virus. But in mid-October the cases started to rise again and in the last few days the daily bulletin broke the contagion record of last year. The announcement of the return to the green pass has meanwhile increased the number of new vaccinated people. GB, MORE THAN 40,000 INFECTIONS. JOHNSON: “URGENT TO MAKE THE RECALLS” There are 40,375 new infections and 145 deaths from covid-19 in the last 24 hours in Great Britain. Compared to a week ago, daily cases decreased by 6.5% and deaths by 8.9%, reports the Guardian. “I see storm clouds gathering over parts of continental Europe, and I have to be absolutely frank, we’ve been to this point before and we remember what happens when a wave starts,” said Boris Johnson, according to whom in the Kingdom United, despite the high numbers of infections, it has “built an enormous amount of protection thanks to vaccines and the extraordinary willingness of people to get immunized”. The British Prime Minister then underlined that “today it is more urgent than ever to make the recall”. “If you can, do it, the level of protection is extraordinary, so if you’re over 50, step forward to do it,” Johnson said, expressing concern over what “no doubt is a wave” of contagions in continental Europe. “If we don’t do it fast enough, we can see the potential risks from what is happening in other parts of Europe,” he explained. PARTIAL LOCKDOWN IN HOLLAND The Netherlands reintroduces a partial lockdown, the first European country to do so in response to the fourth wave of Covid. This evening Prime Minister Mark Rutte will announce the new restrictive measures that will come into force tomorrow and will be extended at least three weeks. Among these, the closure of bars, restaurants and non-essential shops from seven in the evening, the broadcaster Nos anticipated. A maximum of four people can meet in private homes and all sporting events will be held behind closed doors. Remote working will be strongly encouraged. Schools, theaters and cinemas will remain open. CZECH REPUBLIC, MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND NEW INFECTIONS In the Czech Republic, 10,395 new coronavirus infections have been diagnosed in the last 24 hours. This is the third time this week that more than ten thousand infections are recorded in the country. The number of hospitalized patients with the disease has instead slightly decreased to 3,557, with 542 in serious condition SWITZERLAND, INCIDENCE 408 CASES OUT OF 100,000 INHABITANTS The new cases reported in Switzerland have returned to rise in Switzerland coronavirus, after the slight decline reported yesterday: 3,922 new infections have been recorded in the last 24 hours. Seven new deaths and 68 people hospitalized. The total number of infections in the past two weeks is 35,558. In the last 14 days, the incidence stood at 408.27 infections per 100 thousand inhabitants. Yesterday the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) had announced 3,886 cases, Wednesday 4150 and Tuesday 2986. The positive tests communicated a week ago, Friday 5 November, were 2848. As for the deaths, yesterday 6 were announced, a week does anyone. The new hospitalizations were yesterday 31, Friday 5 November 34. In Switzerland a week of information and mobilization is underway to increase the number of vaccinated people. Currently 64.70% of the population has received two doses. ICELAND EXPENSES ANTI-CONTAGION MEASURES Iceland further tightens anticovid measures, in the face of the growth in infections. Starting tomorrow, the attendee cap for events and meetings drops from 500 to 50, unless everyone in attendance exhibits a negative test. Restaurants and pubs will have to close at 10pm, instead of 11pm. The new rules, in effect at least until December 8, come a few days after the government had again imposed the obligation to wear masks in places where it is not possible to keep the distance social. Yesterday’s bulletin reported 176 new infections, after the day before they had reached 200, the third consecutive day of record data. The incidence over 14 days is close to 470 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. The small Nordic country has a high percentage of vaccinees: 279,541 people, or 89% of those over 12, received two doses. The minister of health, Svandis Svavarsdottir, is now focusing on the third dose and plans to administer the booster to 160,000 people by the end of the year, reports the Reykjavik grapevine website. NORWAY, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES THE RESTORATION OF RESTRICTIONS Norway will reintroduce the restrictions necessary to contain the spread of Coronavirus infections, in the face of a sharp increase in cases of contagion. Among the measures envisaged, the possibility for municipalities to use the Green Pass. This was announced by the Oslo government. The restrictive measures were lifted in late September. The authorities will also propose a third dose of the vaccine for anyone over the age of 18. This was announced by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store during a press conference in which he ruled out the adoption of drastic measures. LATVIA, STOP ENTRY IN PARLIAMENT FOR UNVACCINATED MEPs Unvaccinated MEPs in Latvia will not be able to participate in the work of Parliament. According to what was established by the Latvian Chamber, parliamentarians as well as representatives of municipal administrations will have to present the green pass starting from 15 November. The measure, valid until 1 July, will apply to both face-to-face and virtual meetings. It also provides for the suspension of allowances for parliamentarians who cannot work. According to Latvian state radio, nine out of 100 deputies currently lack a green pass.