Austrian government a. decided to put lockdown With the arrival of winter and the rise of infections in Europe, from this Monday (15), for people not vaccinated against the new coronavirus. Germany also imposes stricter circulation limits and the UK expands booster vaccine application to include young adults.
In recent weeks, Europe has once again become the epicenter of the pandemic. With that, some countries returned to the period before Christmas to consider reintroducing restrictions and expanded the debate over vaccines, if they, themselves, are enough to stop the pandemic.
The arrival of winter in the Northern Hemisphere worries officials, as the virus spreads more easily during the colder months, when people tend to gather indoors.
Last week, Europe accounted for more than half of the worldwide average of infections and nearly half of the latest deaths, according to a count by Reuters. This is the highest level since last April, when the virus was at its initial peak in Italy.
Governments and businesses fear the protracted pandemic will hinder the still fragile economic recovery.
Austria’s conservative government has said that about 2 million of the country’s roughly 9 million residents are now allowed to leave their homes only in certain cases, such as coming to work or shopping for essentials.
However, there is widespread doubt among conservatives and the police about how the blockade might be enforced – it would be difficult to verify, for example, whether someone is going to work, what is allowed, or going shopping. Item which is not necessary, which it is not.
Explaining the blockade announced on Sunday, Chancellor Alexander Schalenberg told Radio ORF: “My goal is very clear: to get the unvaccinated, not to arrest the unvaccinated.”
The goal is to prevent outbreaks of new infections, which affect only 65% of the population, with a total vaccination rate that is one of the lowest in Western Europe.
new wave
Germany’s federal government and the leaders of the country’s 16 states are expected to discuss the new measures this week.
The health ministers of three German states have asked the negotiating parties to form a new government. The aim is to prolong the power of states to implement stringent measures such as blocking or closing schools, as the seven-day Covid-19 incidence rate reached a record high.
Chancellor Angela Merkel urged people without vaccinations to reconsider their decision in a video message released on Saturday (13).
“Tough weeks are ahead of us, and you can see that I am very worried,” Merkel said. podcast weekly. “I urge everyone who has not yet been vaccinated to reconsider.”
France, the Netherlands and many countries of Eastern Europe are also facing outbreaks of infection.
Britain should expand booster shots of the vaccine to people aged 40 to 49, to boost weakened immunity before the coldest months of winter.
Currently, all people over the age of 50, those who are medically infirm, and frontline health professionals are eligible for the booster.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he sees no need to go into a “Plan B” mandate for masks and vaccine passports, although he is wary of rising infections in Europe.
“We are sticking to Plan A,” he said in a broadcast on Monday. “But we certainly have to recognize that there is a storm of infection in parts of Europe. There is always a risk that as the months get colder, a new wave will come from the east. The best protection for our country is all ahead.” Grow and get your reinforcements.”
