With the advancement of Delta Air Lines, parts of Europe strengthen defenses and promote vaccination Reuters

Crispian Ballmer

Rome (Reuters)-In response to the growing threat of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, more and more European countries are strengthening their defenses and trying to pressure more people to be vaccinated to stay safe.

Following in the footsteps of France on Thursday, Italy announced that it will soon require a series of activities to provide vaccination or immunization certificates, including indoor dining and access to gyms, swimming pools, museums and cinemas.

Starting last week, Greece has stipulated that anyone must obtain a vaccination certificate to enter indoor restaurants and bars, and dozens of Portuguese cities imposed weekend restrictions on indoor dining in early July.

“The Delta variant is more threatening than the other variants,” Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters, defending his decision to compel so-called green passes to participate in most public life.

“The green pass is not arbitrary, but a necessary condition for not shutting down the economy. Without vaccination, everything will have to be closed again,” Draghi said.

In the past week, the number of new coronavirus infections recorded daily in Italy doubled to 5,057 on Thursday, while in neighbouring France, daily cases soared from 10,908 on July 16 to nearly 22,000.

Unlike the past COVID wave, due to the large-scale vaccination since the beginning of this year, the number of deaths and hospitalizations did not increase simultaneously with the increase in cases.

However, since less than 54% of adults in the EU are fully vaccinated, governments worry that unless they speed up vaccination, there will still be tens of thousands of victims.

According to the Doctolib health website, within a week after French President Emmanuel Macron announced the enhanced health pass on July 12, a record 3.7 million French citizens registered for the vaccine.

The Italian governor said that after Draghi’s speech on Thursday night, bookings increased significantly. “I think the prime minister has achieved what he wanted to achieve,” said Giovanni Toti, the head of the northwest region of Liguria.

Facing resistance

Other European countries are also tightening screws more or less slowly.

Hungary on Friday mandated vaccination of healthcare workers as part of its efforts to contain the pandemic, and Malta this month became the first country in the European Union to ban the entry of any tourist over the age of 12 unless it has been vaccinated.

After initially excluding domestic health passports, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that starting from the end of September, UK nightclubs and other crowded venues will need to provide proof of full vaccination.

Germany has one of the lowest per capita mortality rates in continental Europe. It refuses to compulsory vaccination, saying it will undermine public trust in vaccination campaigns.

On the contrary, Europe’s largest economy is trying to convince skeptics and hesitants to make vaccination as easy as possible, such as providing appointment-free injections at vaccination centers and sending mobile teams to rural areas.

Taking a hard line is not always easy.

Although Russia is under the third wave of control with hundreds of deaths every day, Moscow this week had to lift the ban on people entering cafes, restaurants and bars without a health pass because the owners complained that it would kill business.

At the same time, France’s anger over the new regulations for the new crown pneumonia triggered nationwide protests, with 100,000 people taking to the streets last weekend, accusing the government of excessive intervention.

“I am not here because I am against vaccines. I am here to defend our freedom. We cannot be forced to vaccinate,” 40-year-old baker Mohamed Boukifa told Reuters during a demonstration in Paris in midweek.

Italy showed few signs of such anger. Italy was the first country in the West to be hit by a pandemic. So far, nearly 128,000 people have died, making it the second highest death toll in Europe after the United Kingdom.

“I am a Green Pass extremist,” said Alberto Gaudi, a resident of Rome. “Overcoming this situation is vital to our quality of life, work, health and wellness. Opposing… the green pass is stupid, it’s simply stupid.”