Coronavirus infections again ravaged Europe, almost two years after a global health catastrophe killed over five million people.
The World Health Organization’s latest statistics reveal that there has been an increase of 10% in Coronavirus deaths in Europe. So it can again declare Europe to be at the epicentre of the epidemic.
Most cases are from outbreaks in Russia and Eastern Europe, but patients also increase in Germany and the UK. Although vaccination rates are high in many countries, there are still large numbers of unvaccinated individuals who must get the vaccination.
Vaccination rates in Western Europe are over 60%, while in some countries such as Portugal and Spain, many people lack immunity, and lockdowns are obsolete.
Therefore, Dr Bharat Pankhania, a medical lecturer at Exeter University College of Medicine and Health, says that many unvaccinated people combined with a widespread post-lockdown resumption of socialising. And also, a slight decline in immunity for people who got their jabs months ago is driving up the pace of infections.
Thanks mainly to vaccination, hospitals in Western Europe are not under the same pressure as during the pandemic. Despite this, many have struggled to cope with the growing number of Covid patients and clear backlogs of tests and surgeries with exhausted or ill staff.
Johns Hopkins University data show that even the countries experiencing the most severe outbreaks in the region experienced fewer deaths per person than the United States in the last four weeks.
The question now is if countries can reduce the current upswing without resorting to strict measures which can harm the economy, disrupt education, and negatively impact mental health.
Prof. Devi Sridhar of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Public Health stated: “There is no point in locking people up in their homes any more thanks to modern control methods such as the testing, vaccinations, and therapeutics. Hopefully, people will put on their masks and do what needs to be done.”
The Covid pass is now used in many European countries as proof of complete vaccination, immunity to the virus or negative test results – allowing access to places such as bars and restaurants.
Dr Pankhania cautioned the passes could give people a false sense of protection since even fully vaccinated people can still catch an illness. However, the chances of them dying or becoming seriously ill are significantly lower. German chancellor Angela Merkel spoke people must get vaccinated to protect their-selves and others too.
As she spoke, Germany is dealing with a fresh surge of infections, with 50,000 cases reported on Thursday.
Speaking with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Chancellor Merkel added: “The corona virus is very hard to deal with.”
She continued: “Everyone may get vaccinated. However, all of us, as members of society, must vaccinate yourselves and others as well.”
Similarly, the Dutch government is viewing a limited lockdown of two weeks.
It has been a record-breaking day for recent cases Netherland since the pandemic began, and hospitals warn things could get worse. Still, authorities are hesitant to tighten up too much.
