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BERLIN: Germany, once a beacon of hope in Europe’s coronavirus nightmare, recorded its millionth case on Friday (Nov. 27), when questions arose about how much protection a major vaccine candidate offers.
Like much of the continent, Germany is battling a resurgence of a pandemic that shows little sign of retiring before the launch of several major vaccines.
But the developers of one of the jabs, British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, said Thursday that more research is needed after mixed results were produced in a late-stage trial.
The complication came when millions of Americans rallied for Thanksgiving in defiance of Covid-19 guidelines, even though the US posted a six-month high of more than 2,400 deaths.
Germany had largely contained the spread of the virus in the spring, but has been hit hard by a second wave of infections.
READ: Germany’s COVID-19 restrictions likely to continue in January: Merkel
Its Robert Koch Institute for Disease Control recorded more than 22,000 new cases a day on Friday, pushing the nation’s total past the 1 million mark.
The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care nationwide has skyrocketed from just over 360 in early October to over 3,500 last week.
Europe’s largest economy has closed restaurants, bars, sports facilities and cultural venues, although schools and shops remain open.
But the rules will be temporarily relaxed during Christmas and New Years to accommodate the celebrations, allowing gatherings of up to 10 adults from December 23 through New Year’s Day.
READ: COVID-19 restrictions tighten in Europe as global deaths exceed 1.3 million
READ: WHO COVID-19 envoy fears third wave and calls Europe’s response ‘incomplete’
HOPE FOR VACCINES
Many nations are pinning their hopes on a vaccine to end the misery, with two hits on the cusp of approval from authorities after showing an efficacy of around 95 percent in trials.
But a third AstraZeneca candidate faced uncertainty on Friday after researchers accidentally found that it worked better when given half a dose followed by a full, rather than two full doses.
However, the vaccine has been submitted to the British regulator for approval.
READ: AstraZeneca Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine Needs ‘Further Study’
Meanwhile, much of the world faces a bleak winter marred by lockdowns, economic anxiety and devastating human losses.
US President-elect Joe Biden, however, offered a message of hope Thursday in a Thanksgiving video in which Americans rallied to defeat the outbreak.
“I know better days are coming, I know how bright our future is. I know that the 21st century will be an American century,” he said.
Biden said he normally travels to the New England coast for a big family party, but this year he would be staying home in Delaware for a small gathering.
“I know this is not the way many of us expected our vacation to be spent. We know that a small act of staying home is a gift to our compatriots,” he said.
But the Trump White House urged “all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship” despite the health risk.
READ: United States Celebrates Thanksgiving Reduced As COVID-19 Rises
Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert, said he expected “a surge superimposed on a surge” brought on by the Christmas festivities, even though many have been toned down.
The Macy’s New York Thanksgiving Day Parade, a cherished nearly century-old tradition of giant balloons and colorful floats, was held in a truncated celebration made for television on a single city block, without crowds and much of it prerecorded. .
‘PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND’
Globally, more than 60 million infections and 1.4 million deaths have been recorded since the novel coronavirus emerged in China late last year, according to a count compiled by AFP from official sources.
Countries that have been highly successful against the virus are now cracking down on new outbreaks.
South Korea closed bars and nightclubs this week as it prepares for a third major wave, with virus cases at their highest since March.
Meanwhile, Britain and France are considering easing closed closures soon, but authorities have said the restrictions will remain.
“Basically what the prime minister is trying to do is save our lives, and I don’t think people understand the seriousness of this,” said David Walker, 75, a care worker in Darlington, northern England.
“I think common sense has gone out the window.”
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