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Disease experts warn that the proliferation of Delta variants and relaxation of restrictions are catching up to create a ferocious global Covid-19 wave.
Virologists describe the release of the population as “the secret of disaster” because it is predicted that the number of infections across Europe will increase fivefold by August 1 at the earliest.
At the same time, when the UK celebrated its “Freedom Day” – where is it Most pandemic restrictions have been relaxed This includes wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing-a move described as “a reckless gamble” or just surrender to a “mass infection” of the Delta variant.
A group of international scientists said in a joint statement: “This poses a threat not only to the UK, but also to the entire world, especially to low- and middle-income countries where access to vaccines is very limited.”
Ravi Gupta, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Cambridge, said: “The whole world is looking at us with incredible eyes-a country with some of the best universities and an arrogant mind, yet again underestimates. Our opponent.”
In the United States, there has been a surge of new Covid-19 infections in recent weeks, and the number of cases in four states with low vaccination rates has risen rapidly. These states accounted for 40% of all cases in the country last week.
These are Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Alabama, where 45% to nearly 49% of people are partially vaccinated.
Cases are also multiplying in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, where the surge in infections is exacerbating violence in crippled economies suffering from food and power shortages.
As the Delta variant is prevalent globally, the rapid increase in coronavirus cases is sending shock waves to the stock market, as people worry that this will be a particularly severe phase of the global pandemic.
United Kingdom
Since Monday, British law no longer requires masks, social distancing is not recommended, guidance on working from home is stopped, and restrictions on the number of people attending theaters or large-scale events have been lifted.
For the first time since the beginning of 2020, the nightclub has been approved to open, and the British will start dancing at the “Freedom Day” party that starts at midnight from midnight on Sunday.
But what is the price of their freedom? With the lifting of restrictions, there are 54,000 new infections every day in the UK, which exceeded 50,000 for the first time since January last week.
Although the number of deaths from the virus has been much lower due to the vaccination rate, it is now beginning to rise again, from less than 10 per day in June to around 40 per day in the past week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson isolated from the outside world on Freedom Day after contacting the Minister of Health who tested positive and ended the restrictions. This is regarded as a critical moment for him to respond to the epidemic.
More than 128,000 Britons died, the second highest death toll in Europe after Russia.
A review article on channelnewsasia.com changed the name of Freedom Day to “surrender day” and stated that it was waving the white flag submitted to Covid-19 as a “mass infection strategy”.
According to the website, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been obliging to scrap masks on public transport, calling it “a shocking loss of vision during a pandemic caused by airborne diseases.”
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In a joint letter from 122 scientists to the British Medical Journal Lancet, They warned that Britain’s Freedom Day would not only further promote the already surging epidemic, but could also produce new variants that are more contagious than Delta Air Lines.
They wrote: “The infection rate is currently rising. The increase in the infection rate has led to an increase in the number of hospitalizations.
“Before a strong and sufficient vaccine is achieved in the population to induce immunity, a complete relaxation of behavioral measures aimed at reducing the spread of infection may lead to disaster.
“Only when the infection rate drops rather than rises, preventive measures should be removed.
“We may need to learn to coexist with this virus, but this does not mean that it will be provided with uncontrolled large-scale infection opportunities, which will have adverse effects.”
A senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the move, accusing Britain of “moral emptiness and epidemiological stupidity.”
Critics warned that 68.5% of adults were vaccinated with two doses, but millions of people are still susceptible to the Delta strain.
Julian Tang, a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester, said: “I’m afraid I can’t think of a good and realistic solution for this strategy.” “I think it really is to a certain extent how bad it will become.”
Dr. Tang said that nightclubs are “a perfect mixing container for the spread of the virus and even the production of new variants” among undervaccinated people aged 18 to 25.
With the surge in cases, critics say the government is engaged in “a reckless gamble” as the death toll climbs after a period of decline in the warmer months.
Europe
In Europe, countries are facing an uphill battle. The European Union’s Disease Prevention Agency warned that by August 1, the number of infections across the European Union may increase fivefold.
Like the United Kingdom, Israel and the Netherlands are widely open after vaccinating most of the population.
However, after a surge in new infections, they have now re-implemented some restrictions, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte admitted that the early removal of the restrictions was “a mistake”.
The vaccination rate in Europe now exceeds that in the United States, with 55.5% of people receiving the first dose of the vaccine.
However, the number of Covid-19 cases in Europe in the spring and early summer fell for 10 consecutive weeks, but it stopped abruptly when the number of infections surged by 10% in early July.
Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, said what is driving growth,
It is “increasing mixing, travel, gatherings, and relaxing social restrictions.”
He warned that by August, Europe will become “Delta-dominant” and that it will be “basically unrestricted as travel and gatherings increase.”
He said that new variants, inadequate vaccination and increased social integration will all lead to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
“Unless we maintain discipline, there will be a new wave in the WHO European region.
“This is especially true when there are far fewer rules to follow-unless it is our turn, we will all be vaccinated without hesitation.”
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United States
The highly contagious variant of Delta is spreading in the United States, and there are concerns that a new outbreak may undermine the economic recovery.
The WHO stated in a briefing last week that as more and more infectious variants spread in the United States and Latin America, the entire region is at risk.
Mainly due to the low vaccination rate in some parts of the United States, the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths has been on the rise in recent weeks.
Although the vaccines are effective against Delta variants, laboratory tests have shown that they are not as effective as against the original form of the coronavirus.
Studies have also shown that two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and AstraZeneca vaccine are more effective than one injection.
American scientists say this highlights the importance of people being fully vaccinated.
After the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that in most cases, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks, many areas in the United States have now abandoned masks.
But some states and cities are now trying to decide what to do and may reintroduce masks when the number of cases rises again.
President Joe Biden said in a speech on the US economy that recovery depends on the pandemic being contained.
Except for Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Alabama, the four states with the lowest vaccination rates, another 17 U.S. states (one-third of the country) have yet to partially or fully vaccinate 60% of their residents vaccine.
These states are: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and Alaska.
“So please, please get vaccinated,” Mr. Biden said. “Get vaccinated right away.”
The President has now set a 70% vaccination target for all Americans, which is lower than his previous baseline of returning to normal.
Biden said in March: “By July 4th, you, your family and friends are likely to gather in your backyard or nearby to have a picnic and barbecue together to celebrate Independence Day.”
Latin America
Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization of the WHO Regional Bureau for the Americas, said that the number of cases in Argentina and Colombia has reached record highs, surpassing the levels at the beginning of the pandemic.
Central American and Caribbean countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Cuba and the Virgin Islands have also seen a surge in the number of new infections.
Surrounding countries such as Honduras and Guatemala do not even get enough vaccine doses for 1% of the population.
Dr. Etienne said that if an infection from a nearby country spreads to the border, it could be catastrophic.
The peak of infection has also exacerbated political instability and violence in several countries.
Thousands of Cuban protesters take to the streets Last week, dissatisfaction with food and electricity shortages was reflected in the country’s largest anti-government rally in decades.
But as the turmoil intensifies, it will in turn increase the number of viruses in a vicious circle.
Dr. Etienne said: “Increasing violence, instability and crowded shelters may become active hotspots for the spread of Covid.”
“Limited supply and violence also hinder the ability of health workers to safely care for patients in need. In some cases, patients may avoid seeking out for safety reasons.”
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