Public health experts in the U.S. are closely watching activity in Europe, as it can often be a bellwether for what’s next in the pandemic
A notice in a shoe store window in Traunstein, Germany alerting shoppers to a new obligatory face mask ordinance. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Multiple countries in Europe are experiencing upticks in COVID-19 infections as the continent enters its second pandemic winter. According to Reuters, the region saw a 6 percent increase in new cases last week, with nearly 1.
Daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases per million people in Germany, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and the U.K. Illustration: Our World in Data The surge in infections has prompted a call to action from the World Health Organization, which warned that Europe overall is at a “critical point” in the pandemic. The group said the region could see another 500,000 COVID deaths by February.
The WHO linked the resurgence to uneven vaccine coverage and the premature relaxation of public safety measures. That tracks: Eastern Europe has among the lowest vaccination rates in the region. Ukraine, for instance, is lagging the world in vaccination with only 26 percent of the country’s 41 million people having at least one dose of a vaccine.
Vaccination percentages of the populations in Germany, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and the U.K. Illustration: Our World in Data The rise in cases has sparked debate on whether to reintroduce curbs to tame the virus, especially as it spreads faster in the winter months when people gather indoors. Last week, for instance, Germany expanded its booster vaccine program to all adults and the Netherlands re-imposed the use of face masks.
Health experts in the U.S. are closely watching activity in Europe, as it can often be a bellwether for what’s next in the pandemic. The rise in cases also comes as the U.S. is preparing to open its borders to fully vaccinated foreign visitors.
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