Restrictions for the Delta variant return

The Delta variant, formerly known as the Indian variant, has become the one that most worries the authorities of most countries in the world. Experts say that it is contagious “extremely quickly” and the data indicates that it spreads 60% more than the alpha variant (British).

Experts have predicted that in Spain it will become the dominant variant at the end of the month, as it is already in the United Kingdom where it represents 99% of new cases. This situation is similar in much of the world, so several countries have decided to make decisions to tackle this new threat.

Belgium: restricts flights from the UK

The Belgian authorities have prohibited the arrival of travelers who are not from European Union countries from the United Kingdom and another twenty states among which there is another European country (Georgia), eight Latin Americans (Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Suriname) and other countries such as Qatar, Mozambique or Pakistan.

Although the official number of cases of the Delta variant in the country is still low (6.1%), the true figure is believed to be higher.

Portugal: Lisbon perimeter closure

In Portugal, The Delta variant already constitutes 60% of the cases in the Lisbon area, which has justified the perimeter closure of the capital of the Portuguese country during the weekends. Although there has been a small increase in those hospitalized, the number of deaths remains stable as the most vulnerable people are protected with vaccination.

United Kingdom: postponement of end of restrictions

The United Kingdom decided to postpone the time at which the restrictions would end (dated June 21) due to the advance of the Delta variant in the country. The cases of this variant have exceeded 33,000 in the last week, which has forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to make decisions to stop the advance.

Thus, bars, pubs and restaurants will not be able to open with their maximum capacity as planned and discos and nightclubs will continue to be closed.. The UK has proposed July 19 as the new date to lift the latest restrictions, although it reportedly The Times, a government adviser has said that by then 70% of the population would have to be vaccinated with two doses to lift the restrictions.

Israel: mask is mandatory again in some areas

Just five days after the Israeli government lifted the obligation to wear a mask indoors and a month after it made the same decision in the case of outdoor spaces, the country takes a step back and the mask will once again be mandatory in some areas.

Specifically, the decision came after the appearance of two outbreaks in the schools of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut and Binyamina and the municipality of Modiin, whose mayor has announced that the use of the mask indoors is extended to the entire city.

Italy: waiting for the scientific committee

In the transalpine country, The government is awaiting the deliberation of the Scientific Committee that is considering allowing the withdrawal of the use of the mask outdoors. Regarding the Delta variant, one of the members of the committee assures that “with only one dose the efficacy is 20%, with the two injections it increases to 80%”.

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