Two years after the start of the pandemic, the number of infections in Europe is increasing rapidly. "If we don't act now, it will be a terrible Christmas," warns the German head of infection control.
Despite the fact that vaccines against Covid-19 have been available for almost a year, a large proportion of the population in many EU countries has chosen not to take them. Experts describe vaccines as the only way out of the crisis.
Currently, the number of infections is increasing in many European countries. In Germany, which did quite well in the first phase of the pandemic, the spread is now alarmingly high. The situation in hospitals is bleak, according to Lothar Wieler, head of the German institute of public health Robert Koch (RKI).
- We've never been as worried as we are now, he said at an online seminar this week. He describes how stroke patients and other seriously ill patients have to wait two hours in an intensive care unit. Wards are full - mostly with unvaccinated patients with carriers.
Emergency
- Our country is now in crisis. Anyone who doesn't realize it is making a very big mistake, Wieler said.
On Thursday, the German infection control authorities recorded a record 65 cases in a single day. The day before, that number was 000. It is estimated that, according to Wieler's forecast, about 52 of them will die.
If we consider the black scenario, it could be two or three times more. This means that over a thousand coronavirus-related deaths can occur every day in Germany in just a few weeks.
- Too late for anything. These people are already infected. It's like the water has run out of the bucket - you can't pour it back, the head of infection control tells Austrian newspaper Die Welt Värre.
The seriousness of the situation is evidenced by the fact that a hospital in Freising, Bavaria, recently sent a patient to Italy. The hospital did not take place and he did not manage to find any other treatment facilities within the country.
Austria is closed
In neighboring Austria, the situation is even worse. Almost a week ago, the government introduced a halt to work for the unvaccinated, and from next Monday there will be a total halt of work across the country for ten days to contain the infection.
Austria will therefore be the first country in Europe to enter the new period of full closure.
The authorities also plan to introduce compulsory vaccinations by February 1. The vaccination rate is one of the lowest in Western Europe. "Embarrassingly low," as Prime Minister Alexander Schallenberg put it.
The dead lie in the hospital corridor
On Thursday, more than 15 cases of infection were reported for the first time in Austria, a country with almost 000 million inhabitants. There are reports from the health service of very serious challenges. Among other things, from a crowded hospital in a hard-hit Upper Austria crisis.
- We have to put the dead in the corridors - says an employee of the APA news agency.
He says employees are under tremendous psychological pressure, which increases as more and more people die.
- Nobody on the outside can imagine what that means, he says.
Last week, Europe accounted for more than half of the world's weekly infection rates. About half of the deaths were recorded here, according to Sky News, which cites Reuters.
Demonstrations in France
The events in Austria sparked unrest in France, where several hundred people demonstrated in front of the Austrian embassy on Thursday, Sky News reports.
President Emmanuel Macron said there will be no closures for unvaccinated people and notes that the vaccination certificate is working to reduce infection. In France, proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result is required to be able to go to restaurants, cafes, cinemas, as well as travel by long-distance train.
In many Eastern European countries, such as Romania and Bulgaria, the situation has been developing catastrophically for several weeks. This is largely due to the fact that few have been vaccinated. In Hungary, a third dose of the vaccine is now compulsory for health professionals, and the population has to re-wear masks in most indoor public places.
Better in Southern Europe
However, the situation is different in the countries of southern Europe that were hardest hit in the first phase of the pandemic.
Italy, which has a population of nearly 60 million, reported more than 10 new cases on Wednesday for the first time since May. Thus, spread increases, but infection remains relatively low.
Health authorities explained the favorable position that vaccine share is among the highest in the EU. This in turn provided the opportunity to introduce the certificate earlier this year. The certificate shows whether the person has been vaccinated, previously infected or may test negative. The certificate is not only required in order to gain access to a range of events, but is also used in professional life.
Greece also introduced restrictions for unvaccinated people as infection rates rose. They have now been denied access to cinemas, museums, and gyms.
. Koronapass
The message of the German RKI chief Wieler to all the unvaccinated is clear: Go and do it!
He wants to increase the vaccination rate by giving pharmacies the opportunity to have the vaccine.
- We're in an emergency. Anyone who knows how to get the injection now needs to contribute. Otherwise, we will not get to grips with this crisis, he says.
The so-called fourth wave of Covid-19 behaves differently than in the previous phases. The few countries that had the most infections at the start of the pandemic now have relatively low coverage, while countries like Germany - which previously had relatively few deaths - are now among the worst affected.
In German-speaking Europe, the concept of 3G "geimpft, genesen, genetestet", meaning vaccinated, recovered, tested and 2G (vaccinated or recovered), has been introduced in various contexts.
Last week, Austria tightened the rules from 3G to 2G and no longer allows unvaccinated people to go to a restaurant or hairdresser on the basis of a negative test alone. In Germany, 2G rules have been introduced in several countries and there is an ongoing debate as to whether this concept should be extended to the whole country.
Source: NTB
(AP Photo / Michael Probst)
Information from Norway
