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In Europe there is already talk of the third wave of the pandemic and of reacting with the only immediately available weapon: restrictions. Thus, Great Britain, overwhelmed by contagions, has decided to keep schools closed in London and in France a longer curfew regime has taken place, while the German government prepares to receive regional authorities to extend the duration of the closing.
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The Covid vaccination campaign, which has just started, is progressing too slowly to be able to expect a reduction in infections in a short time. In Britain, by contrast, the situation seems increasingly dramatic, with almost 58,000 new cases registered in 24 hours. The new variant of the virus is spreading across the island, beyond the borders of southern England, some of the most authoritative doctors have estimated, urging all hospitals in the kingdom to prepare.
The British Public Health Authority (Phe) made it clear today that it does not recommend a combination of two different coronavirus vaccines. “We do not recommend mixing covid-19 vaccines. If your first dose is Pzifer, you don’t have to get the second AstraZeneca or vice versa, ”Dr. Mary Ramsay, chief of Phe immunization, told Sky today. The clarification became necessary after the British government issued guidelines on December 31 that allow the administration of the second dose with a different vaccine, in case the first type is not available, or it is unknown which type was the first. dose. . The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are currently distributed in the UK, but Astrazeneca will also be used from next week. Both vaccines have two doses, but they work differently. According to Ramsey, the use of the two vaccines in the same person will only occur “on extremely rare occasions.” “Every effort should be made to give the same vaccine, but if that is not possible, a second dose of another vaccine is better than nothing,” he said.
Schools closed in London
In London, the government has decided that all primary schools will be closed until January 18. Although Education Minister Gavin Williamson’s provision, which critics see as an “embarrassing U-turn” compared to the earlier decision to keep only schools in the highest-risk areas closed until 6 p.m., is not considered sufficient, according to director. teachers union, which called for the closure of all English schools. Modeled on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Curfew extended in France for 15 departments and late controversy over vaccines
In France, after easing holiday restrictions, the curfew was advanced from 20 to 18 for six million people living in 15 departments in the east of the country, at the request of local authorities concerned about the progression of the epidemic. And although the New Year went smoothly across the country, there was the place of the crazy rave party that on the night of the 31st brought together 2,500 children in the Breton town of Lieuron. Complete with clashes with the police.
Five days after France launched its Covid vaccination campaign, only 332 people received their dose, compared, for example, to 994,000 in the UK: notes Le Figaro newspaper, citing a tweet from well-known doctor Patrick Pelloux in France for his controversial verve, he writes “we are really doing the figure of fools compared to other countries”. The conservative French newspaper recalls that there are already more than 9.8 million vaccinated in the world, with a record in China where, according to data released by the Beijing authorities, 4 million people have already received a dose. It is followed by the United States (2.7 million), Israel (one million) and small countries like Denmark, which have already immunized 30,000 citizens out of a population of only 5.8 million. According to Le Figaro, part of the problems is also due to the “relative weakness” of the European Union’s request in favor of the 27 member states, with a late contract signed only in November.
As for Germany, the country has just returned from a week in which the threshold of one thousand deaths in one day was crossed for the first time. The population is concerned and has accepted the new blockade imposed by the government. Angela Merkel and the 16 regional laender leaders are expected to jointly extend the current restrictions beyond January 10 on Tuesday, including closing schools, non-essential shops, bars and restaurants. At least for a few weeks.
The reopening of schools, on the other hand, is the goal of the Greek government, which announced the extension of the closure until January 10. Prevent the situation from worsening and prevent students from returning to the institutions after 11 am.
Patient registries in the United States, India, and Brazil
Outside of Europe, looking at the podium of the sickest countries in the world, it is recorded that the United States has started the new year with more than 160,000 new cases, having crossed the 20 million mark. And they are close to 350,000 dead. With the risk that there will be 100,000 more in the next month, according to some projections. India, with more than 10.3 million cases, aims to vaccinate 300 million people by mid-year, after giving the green light to AstraZeneca. Brazil has exceeded 7.7 million cases. Too bad that its president, Jair Bolsonaro, inaugurated 2021 with a new provocation: diving into the sea in São Paulo, acclaimed by a crowd of supporters without masks.
