Health

Europe ramps up restrictions as Covid-19 cases rise

Madrid Desk, Nov 17 (EFE).- Europe is reporting an increase in coronavirus cases with countries like Austria and Germany hitting daily records and others like Belgium considering re-introducing work from home policies.

Europe is also the only region in the world where deaths related to Covid-19 have increased. The World Health Organization reported a 5% surge in the last week while deaths in other regions have stabilized or decreased.

Germany on Wednesday hit a daily coronavirus record of 52,826 new infections in the last 24 hours and a seven-day incidence rate of 319.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Schools across the country are braced for a potential shutdown as the incidence rate in children from the age of 5 to 14 is the highest, representing 658.8 cases per 100,000, according to the Robert Koch Institute of virology.

“We have to do everything to avoid the closure of schools,” president of the German Teachers’ Association (DL), Heinz-Peter Meidinger, said, admitting there was growing uncertainty on whether schools could close.

AUSTRIA

Austria on Wednesday registered a daily record of 14,416 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, three days after a lockdown was enforced on millions of unvaccinated people.

The increase in cases is mounting pressure on the healthcare system with some hospitals already reaching full capacity.

Since Monday, all unvaccinated people are on lockdown and allowed to leave their homes only to go to work or shop for essentials.

Austria has one of Europe’s lowest vaccination rates with some 65% of the population fully vaccinated against severe symptoms of Covid-19.

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