Europe and Corona
Every continent is dealing with the pandemic differently. While some parts of the world are vaccinating at a rapid pace, others have, in a sense, slept through it. This includes Europe, considering that the third wave has hit Europe in full. Europe, for example, relies on click and collect in industries. Other countries are already further ahead here thanks to vaccinations and are discussing openings. In a few European countries, the incidence is falling, but in the vast majority it is clearly on the rise.
What does the third wave mean?
Generally speaking, and according to current estimates, nothing good. After a short recovery phase at the beginning of 2021, infections have risen by up to 60 percent since February. That means more than 300 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants every day within Europe and within the past seven days.
But the third wave has not arrived with full force everywhere.
Estonia is currently the hardest hit, as the incidence there has tripled since February. The situation in the neighbouring countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia, on the other hand, is remarkable, with the situation visibly easing. Even in Great Britain and Spain, the incidence figures are strongly declining and there are no signs of a third wave.
Rising incidence
Significant increases can be seen in Central and Southern Europe, especially in Hungary and the Czech Republic. But in Germany, too, the figure has almost doubled, albeit at a lower level.
But despite the rising incidences, there is a glimmer of hope, the number of deaths is clearly decreasing. It is not yet possible to say whether this trend will continue; that will become clear after two weeks at the latest. As a rule, these courses of the disease last that long.
Across countries, the success of the vaccination campaigns taking place is only partially noticeable and a clear easing of the situation is not discernible.
Ongoing vaccinations
Israel is the world champion in Corona vaccinations, England the European champion and third place goes to the USA.
The European average is slightly higher than that of the EU and Germany.
What is allowed in Germany?
Supermarkets and pharmacies are exempt from all measures. although you can now buy your food online just as you can buy a spice set, online shopping is by no means for everyone and excludes older people, for example. All other opening of shops and curfews depend on the incidence figures and the respective state. The chaos here seems perfect.
Conclusion
While mass vaccination started quickly in the UK, Israel and, surprisingly, the US, much of Europe slept through this important step. Joint action and only working with each other made for a difficult start to vaccination. The USA and Israel were supplied with vaccine en masse right from the start, while in Europe there were only a few vaccine doses or none at all. Europe’s bureaucracy and disunity prevented a successful start.
This is fatal in a situation where the virus is mutating and many people are fighting for their lives. The vaccination campaign in Europe and Germany is only slowly gaining momentum, ultimately far too late to successfully counteract the pandemic. On the whole, it can be argued that Europe has at least partially failed with Covid-19.
The situation in Germany is hardly less confusing or better. If the country got off relatively lightly during the first wave, the subsequent waves hit it with full force. Instead of vaccinations in chord, one lock-down follows the other. Certainly not a good recipe in this pandemic where human lives and the survival of the economy are at stake. The long-term consequences are not yet foreseeable, but one or the other company will certainly no longer exist thanks to sleeping politics. One can only hope that Europe learns from this and can counter future events of this kind more successfully.