As virus cases rise as the highly contagious Delta variant races toward total dominance, European countries are scrambling to ramp up vaccinations to protect their citizens – who are being lured with everything from car lotteries to freebies to get vaccinated.
Brilliant sunshine, lazy days on the beach and long dinners with long-awaited friends who have been isolated during the pandemic. Europe has entered holiday mode and in many places, falling infection rates during the spring have meant that restrictions have been eased just in time for the holidays.
But a storm is brewing on the horizon.
After ten weeks of declining virus numbers in Europe, the number of new cases is increasing, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns. The break in trend is explained, among other things, by more people traveling and meeting in larger groups since the rules on social gatherings were relaxed.
Some criticism has also been directed at the European Football Championship after fans flocked to stadiums and pubs – and some are worried that the sporting event will turn into a super-spreader event. The fact that Britain allows 60,000 spectators for the final matches has made German Chancellor Angela Merkel frown.
Above all, it is the rise of the Delta variant of the virus that is worrying. In the UK, it accounts for 95 percent of new cases and the rapid spread of the infection has postponed the final stage of England's reopening. The development has led countries such as Portugal, Spain and Malta to increase restrictions on holiday-seeking Britons.
But the rules may have been tightened too late. Experts say it is likely only a matter of time before Delta tightens its grip on mainland Europe.
By the end of August, the virus variant will account for 90 percent of cases in the EU, predicts the ECDC, which states that there is a "high to very high risk" of infection in areas with low vaccination rates.
”"It is very important to roll out the vaccine at a very high rate," warns ECDC.
The Covid vaccine has been shown to protect against the delta variant, but two doses are required for high protection. However, WHO regional director Hans Kluge noted last week that the vaccination rate in Europe is not close to what it should be. At that time, 63 percent of the population in the WHO European Region, which includes some Central Asian countries, had still not received their first shot.
New virus variants combined with low vaccination coverage and people ignoring social distancing and largely meeting outsiders mean that there is a risk of a new wave of the virus in Europe in the fall, Kluge notes.
”The window for action is now open.”
In some countries The virus is spreading faster in younger age groups – which is causing concern as they are often last in the vaccination queue. Now governments across Europe are trying to find quick solutions.
In the hope of avoiding a new wave of the virus, children between the ages of 12 and 17 are being vaccinated in the Netherlands. In Greece, young adults are getting 150 euros in fun vouchers and a month of free mobile surfing after the first injection. In Rome, vaccine buses are being considered on the beaches, and in Poland, cars are being raffled off among vaccinated adults.
Portugal has been easing its restrictions since mid-March after the number of new cases of Covid-19 dropped to around 500 a day. But now the spread of the infection is increasing and the number of new cases has reached over 2,000 in a day for the first time since February.
In the worst-hit areas, nighttime curfews have been imposed and restaurants and bars have been forced to close earlier. Efforts are also being stepped up to get more people vaccinated. Clinic opening hours have been extended, soldiers have been called in to help and the time between two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been shortened from twelve to eight weeks.
”We are racing against time,” said Mariana Vieira da Silva, the minister responsible for coordinating COVID measures.
Source: TT
