The Omicron variant scares Europe. From Germany, where the chancellor in pectore said he was in favor of the vaccination obligation and the situation is so dramatic as to ask for the transfer of patients outside the country, to Greece, where the mandatory inoculations for the over 60s were announced, the countries they seek the necessary countermeasures to deal with the fourth wave. With the further threat of a variant against which there are still no adequate countermeasures.
Ecdc data
As of November 30, there are 44 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2 reported by 11 EU and European Economic Area (SEE) countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France (Reunion), Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, according to information from public sources. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc) takes stock, in the latest epidemiological update released today. “Numerous probable cases have also been reported throughout the region, but they are still under investigation – the body pointed out – Most of the confirmed cases have a history of travel to African countries, some have taken connections in other destinations between Africa and Europe “. Another important element reported by the ECDC is that “all cases for which information on severity is available were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms”. So far “no serious cases or deaths have been reported among these cases.” Omicron cases outside the EU / See are currently being reported by 9 countries and territories: Australia, Botswana, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Germany and vaccination obligation
From Germany, one of the European countries most in difficulty in the face of this fourth wave, the German Chancellor in pectore Olaf Scholz expressed himself in favor of the general obligation for the anticovid vaccine, during the consultation between the State and the Regions on Covid, to in which he participates together with Angela Merkel. “It is important to establish a general obligation to vaccinate,” he said according to reports from some German media, including Spiegel. The problem, then, is that the intensive care units in Germany are overloaded. Thus, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, people are preparing for transfers of patients to other countries. “We have prepared ourselves today, if necessary, for transfers abroad,” Baden-Württemberg Minister of Health Manne Lucha (Verdi) told the dpa, quoted by Stimme. Several states have already offered to accept Covid ICU patients from Baden-Württemberg. These include Switzerland and, in Italy, Lombardy.
Record infections in Switzerland
In the last 24 hours, 8,422 new cases of covid-19, 22 deaths and 138 hospitalizations have been recorded in Switzerland. This was reported by data from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPE). The incidence has now exceeded a thousand cases: over a period of 14 days there are 1014.67 infections per 100 thousand inhabitants. Over the last 24 hours, the results of 52,625 tests were transmitted, with a positive rate of 16%. The total number of infections in the past two weeks is 88,371. 65.67% of the population is vaccinated with two doses. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,014,645 cases recorded and 11,149 deaths
Greece, vaccination obligation for over 60s
But there are those who have already started the vaccination obligation. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced mandatory vaccination against Covid-19 for all Greeks over the age of 60. Those who refuse will have to pay a monthly fine of 100 euros for each month they are not vaccinated, starting January 16. Funds raised from the fines will be donated to Greek hospitals fighting the pandemic. Bloomberg reports it. “It’s not a punishment,” said Mitsotakis, “I’d say it’s a health tax.”
The mask is back in the UK
The UK, meanwhile, reintroduces the use of indoor masks like Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The mask will be required in shops and on public transport. From today also the obligation of tests for all arrivals on the island, to contain the Omicron variant of Covid. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new restrictions will help ensure that people can “enjoy Christmas with their families.” Javid said the government has acted “quickly” and “in a proportionate manner” and will take further action “in a proportionate manner where necessary”, although at the moment, he explained, it is not necessary to work from home. And he said he hoped the new squeeze could be lifted in the space of a few weeks.