As Europe looks to ease coronavirus restrictions, there are still very high numbers of infections in many countries around the world.
(AFP/OSC). Several countries in Europe are currently easing restrictions against the backdrop of a vaccination campaign against Corona. But Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, warned on Tuesday that the epidemic was still at a “very dangerous stage”. Several outbreaks in the Asia-Pacific region in recent weeks have proved him right.
So Indonesia has become a hot spot. The country recorded a new record 1,040 coronavirus deaths in the 24 hours following Tuesday’s 728. The number of new infections rose to 34,379 from 31,189 the day before. “We must pay attention to the availability of hospitals,” said Minister in Charge Irlanga Hartarto.
In recent weeks, hospitals in the world’s largest archipelagic nation have had to take in many patients who have also contracted the highly contagious form of the Delta virus. Due to overcrowding, some clinics are already operating with additional tents or have to refuse patients. Oxygen is also getting scarcer. More than 60 people died in hospital over the weekend from lack of oxygen, according to CNN Indonesia.
The new restrictions came into effect at the weekend due to an alarming rise in new coronavirus infections. Since Saturday, strict restrictions have been imposed in the capital, Jakarta, the main island of Java, and on the island of Bali. Schools, mosques, restaurants and shopping centers must remain closed. Currently, lessons will be held for students online only. Companies have been invited to send their employees to work from home. Local transportation is also restricted. Domestic travel by bus, train or plane is only allowed for those who have received at least one dose of vaccination. The restrictions are in effect until July 20.
The Indonesian government is accused of being unresponsive to the outbreak. President Joko Widodo has taken limited steps to avoid damaging the country’s economy. But on Friday he said the current situation forced the government to “take tougher action”. So now more need to be vaccinated. According to FAZ, only about five percent of Indonesians are currently vaccinated.
Another case is Australia, where, unlike European countries, a strategy has been followed that aims to stop being infected with HIV. To that end, the government has largely closed borders and imposed local but stricter lockdowns despite only a few infections. This allows Australians to live relatively normal lives during the pandemic while avoiding a high death rate. Since the pandemic began, more than 30,000 infections and 910 deaths have been reported in Australia.
There, too, the number of cases is now increasing again. In New South Wales, 27 new cases of coronavirus were recently discovered. Australian authorities extended the lockdown in Sydney, the state’s largest city, another week on Wednesday due to new cases of the delta variant of the coronavirus. For two weeks now, only Sydneysiders have been allowed to leave their homes due to force majeure. The measure was initially extended until July 16. Explaining the move, Gladys Berejiklian, head of the New South Wales local government, said: “The Delta version changes everything, it’s very convertible.”
But the number of infections is also increasing elsewhere: According to Johns Hopkins University, Mongolia currently has the highest infection rate worldwide (525 recent new infections per 100,000 population in seven days), followed by countries such as Namibia (467), Colombia ( 372) Tunisia (346), Argentina (280), Oman (235), and South Africa (230). Outside of Europe, the very high rate of increase in new infections compared to the previous week was especially evident in several countries in Southeast Africa (Mozambique: 113 percent), Madagascar (plus 86 percent), Malawi (plus 63 percent) and Zimbabwe (plus 63 percent) . 62 percent), as well as Southeast Asian countries Laos (plus 472 percent), Myanmar (plus 152 percent) and Vietnam (plus 114 percent). Johns Hopkins University points out, however, that the number of cases is rarely reported in only a few states, and therefore the seven-day incidence there can fluctuate widely.
In terms of vaccination, looking at the world map still shows a large area with a vaccination rate of less than 20 vaccination doses per 100 population. This includes almost the entire African continent, apart from Indonesia, Southeast Asian countries which are mentioned with a high rate of increase in the number of new infections, most Middle Eastern countries and some Central American countries. With more than 115 doses per 100 population, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Chile, Uruguay and Mongolia have above average vaccines.
Hot Spots in Sdeuropa
The number of new coronavirus cases in Greece has more than doubled every day for a week. On Tuesday, health authorities reported 1,797 new infections in 24 hours. To contain the number of infections, which have been rising rapidly for days, Catalonia, Spain’s corona hotspot, has severely restricted its nightlife. The number of new infections per 100,000 residents there rose to 253 in seven days, and the number of new infections in the Portuguese Algarve region, the city of Lisbon and Cyprus was also very high.
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