Filenews 21 March 2021
In the difficult path of the third wave of the pandemic has entered the Old Continent, as betrayed by the numbers of infections.
Many countries in Europe are on a path of tightening restrictions, which, despite the vaccination campaign, are experiencing an increasing trend in cases after a period of intense fatigue brought about by the long-term internment regime.
The 'accordion' system, which the Greek Prime Minister had also spoken about in terms of the implementation of the measures, seems to be followed by a number of governments.
The vicious cycle of relaxation-tightening is being felt in an attempt to salvage economic activities.
The vaccine approval process is underway, with Johnson&Johnson's one-dose formulation expected to be released in the EU in April, creating optimism about its delivery as conservation is easier than that of Pfizer and Moderna, which is temperature sensitive.
However, there is anxiety about the course of dosing across Europe, as according to the "geography" of vaccinations presented a few days ago by Reuters, only 8.5% of Europeans have been vaccinated.
The target of covering 70% of the population by the summer set by the Commission, orally Von Der Leyen, seems difficult to achieve at the moment.
At the same time, there is widespread anxiety about the mutations of the coronavirus that make it difficult to delineate the situation.
In the majority of European countries, the British variant is the predominant, while its high communicability index is a common secret.
In the climate of concern about the course of the coronavirus, however, a window of hope opens up findings of scientific bodies, according to which most vaccines are resistant to mutations and protect from the first, already, dose of 80% from serious disease, in case of infection by the coronavirus.
Under the regime exhausted by prolonged measures, demonstrations and clashes with police were recorded in Germany, Croatia and Switzerland on Saturday.
New lockdowns were introduced in France and Poland to intercept the third wave.
At this point, the question is reasonably raised as to whether the third wave will be as deadly as the second wave and whether it will hit the planet.
It cannot, however, pass on the fact that Europe is already badly traumatised by the pandemic, as it mourns over a million victims of coronavirus.
As for the public's protest against the measures, which, if anything, shows exhaustion, 20,000 demonstrators gathered in the German city of Kassel in one of the biggest demonstrations of the year to express their reaction to the current situation.
Even in small towns in Switzerland, marches were organized by hundreds of citizens who wanted to protest the measures, and images of the deserted streets in Paris were impressed by the new quarantine.
The increase in infections in France has forced Emmanuel Macron to announce a new reinforcement of measures to put a brake on the uncontrolled course of the virus.
At the same time, in Poland all shops will be closed for three weeks.
Germany is expected to impose new restrictions again from Monday, with Angela Merkel launching a policy of tightening the measures.
Source: protothema.gr
