Health

European countries face new wave of coronavirus infections

International Desk, Jul 6 (EFE).- A new wave of coronavirus infections is hitting countries across Europe, mainly driven by the fast spreading Delta variant and hesitance over vaccination.

Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit a new record on Tuesday, with authorities reporting 737 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the highest figure since the start of the pandemic.

The country also reported 23,378 new Covid-19 infections in the past day, 90% of which are attributed to the Delta variant.

As the situation continues to worsen across Russia, authorities have decided to make vaccination for people working in the public sector mandatory.

Authorities have also blamed the surge on Russians’ reluctance to receive the vaccine despite president Vladimir Putin repeatedly urging the population to get inoculated with one of the four Russian-made vaccines.

In Italy, one of the worst hit countries in Europe, a downward trend in coronavirus infections that started in April has now come to an end, authorities said Tuesday.

Covid-19 cases and deaths have increased since last week for the first time in months, with 91 more cases and 3 more deaths compared to 7 days ago.

Unlike in Russia, the Delta variant in Italy accounts for some 22% of cases, although it can reach as high as 70% dominance in some coastal regions.

Nearly 40% of Italy’s population has received the Covid-19 vaccine. All adults can now book their vaccination appointment, but many remain hesitant.

Italy’s Minister of Regional Affairs, Mariastella Gelmini, warned it was necessary to convince those who remain indecisive to get the vaccine in order to curb the spread of the virus.

Daily infections in the Netherlands have also increased by almost two thirds in the last seven days, the first week since coronavirus restrictions, including wearing masks indoors, were lifted.

According to the latest data, more than 1,500 new positive cases are being reported each day, although hospital admissions are still falling which the Institute of Public Health (RIVM) says is due to the country’s advanced vaccine rollout, which has seen nearly 40 percent of the Dutch population receive both doses.

The RIVM has confirmed the upward trend in daily infections, with the highest peak among 20-29 year-olds.

Deaths from Covid-19 remain at an average of one per day.

Ernst Kuipers, chairman of the National Network for Acute Care (LNAZ), said that the easing of measures last week have caused the rise in infections and warned that “the virus is not going away.” EFE

ir-bsi-mol/mp/lv

Related Articles

Back to top button