Overseas Situation Report Wednesday 4 August 2021

The Overseas Report 4 August 2021

by Mike Evans

“Always remember, people have survived all sorts of challenges & struggles in every era. Let’s take the inspiration knowing ‘this too shall pass.’ Life is much more than it is right now.’’

– Rajesh Goya

The last Overseas report focused on the two Americas and the neighbouring countries and how the past week has seen an increase in Infections. For this report we will focus on Europe over the past week and see what has happened with regards to new cases and deaths.In the past week the whole of Europe has seen a drop of 8% in new reported cases but a rise of 8% in new reported deaths.

Four countries in Europe have the bulk of the new cases. These are the UK, Russia, Spain and France. Between them they represent 78% of the 872,444 cases reported across the region. As with many countries the Delta variant is the cause of these new surges in infections. In the UK it is estimated that 96% of new infections are from the Delta variant. On the plus side for the UK new cases dropped in the week by 27% compared to the previous 7 days. With regards to deaths in the UK these were also down compared to the previous week by 20%.

The latest surge of infections reached a peak on July 21 when the 7 day average was at 47,101 cases. Since then the country has seen a steady decline in new cases to 26,117 on 2 August.

The UK has now fully vaccinated 57% of its population and just recently relaxed rules for arriving travellers from a number of countries who previously had to quarantine for 10 days. Most of the country’s restrictions have been lifted as well so while cases are still being seem the rise is not as big as previous spikes and the percentage of people vaccinated will help the hospitals cope with any surges they might have.

In Russia where since the early days of the pandemic the figures that were quoted were always felt to be highly inaccurate, have also seen the weekly number of cases fall by 3%. However, the number of deaths has risen by 1%. It is worth noting that the total deaths announced in the week across the whole of Europe was 6,992. Russia had a death toll of 5,463, which equates to around 80% of the total deaths in Europe.

Overall Russia has confirmed 6,334,195 cases of coronavirus and 160,925 deaths, since the start of the pandemic,according to the national coronavirus information centre. Although the number of deaths attributed to Covid 19 is relatively low for such a large country it is interesting to see that Russia’s total excess fatality count since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is around 483,000.

The Kremlin’s ambitions to win soft-power dividends around the world from Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine are being hampered by delays in delivering Sputnik V to foreign buyers clamoring for supplies.

This week, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said his country would seek to replace 8 million planned doses with supplies from other producers by the end of year after delays receiving its initial order.

Countries that embraced Sputnik amid a global rush to secure vaccines are increasingly reporting supply problems with the second component in the two-shot inoculation. In Argentina, a presidential adviser said the shortages put the government at risk as people were unable to receive the second dose within the recommended period of three months after the first.

President Vladimir Putin has touted Sputnik to leaders around the world as part of an ambitious Kremlin drive to put Russia on the map as a major player in the international vaccine business. But difficulties producing the promised shots could relegate it to a secondary-role as rivals from the U.S., Europe and China fill the gap.

Meanwhile in Spain, over the week they have seen infections drop by 11% but regretfully deaths have risen by 152%. Spain recorded 160,929 new infections in the past week compared to 180,204 in the previous 7 days. However, deaths in the previous week were 149 and the past 7 days has seen that figure rise to 375.

Although there has been a slight drop in cases the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has decided to place Spain and the Balearic Islands in the dark red category.

Such a decision comes after the country registered an upsurge in Coronavirus cases, identifying more than 500 infections per 100,000 inhabitants during the last 14 days. Consequently, since Spain has been registering high infection rates, ECDC has advised against all unnecessary travel to the country and to the three islands, Ibiza, Palma, and Minorca.

Spain is one of the EU countries that has been severely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. However, since the country’s economy significantly relies on the travel and tourism industry, the country decided to open its borders for several arrivals from the European Member States without requiring them to undergo testing and quarantine requirements.

The other country in the top four of the highest new cases of infection is France. In the past week France, unlike the other three countries, has seen the rate of infections rise by 20% and the number of deaths during the week has risen by 54%.

With France facing a fourth COVID wave, the government is making it harder for unvaccinated people to access certain public places. Over the weekend, protesters once again came out in force to show their opposition. The demonstrators feel their personal freedom is in danger, with some talking about a segregated society. Among other things — like relaxing the vaccination requirement for health care workers — they have been demanding that the health pass be withdrawn. But although the number of protesters has been going up every week, they don’t seem to represent the majority of the French. Only between 35% and 40% of the population supports their demands, according to a recent survey by polling institute Ifop.

A “health pass” will soon be required on trains, domestic flights and in long-distance buses, as well as in restaurants and cafes.

The pass consists of a QR code on a smartphone or on a piece of paper, and shows that people have been fully vaccinated, hold a recent negative PCR test result or have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection. The QR code is already mandatory at cultural venues and its use will be extended on August 9, provided France’s highest court of appeal gives its go-ahead. The law will also make a COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for health care workers and those working with vulnerable people. In case of noncompliance, staff are to be suspended without pay.

French authorities are implementing the health pass in an attempt to boost vaccination rates and stem a fourth wave of COVID-19, fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. Daily infection rates have exploded in recent weeks, increasing from roughly 3,000 in early July to now over 20,000.

The government is aiming to reach collective immunity, which virologists believe can be reached with an immunization rate of 80% to 90% of the entire population.

Across the rest of Europe there is a mixed picture with regards to new infections. Around half of the countries listed have shown an increase in new cases, notably Germany, Italy and Denmark, while other significant decreases have been seen in The Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium.

In Italy whilst the number of infections is dropping the number of deaths in the week has increased by 22% compared to the previous seven days. This comes on top of an attack by Cyber hackers on one of the country’s largest health areas, Lazio. Hackers have attacked and blocked an Italian Covid-19 vaccination booking system, a source from Italy’s cybercrime police told CNN on Monday, marking the worst cyberattack the country’s health service has ever seen.

An investigation has been opened into the “very serious” attack on the IT system of the health department of Lazio, one of the most populated regions of Italy and home to capital Rome, according to a source from the Postal and Communications Police, which investigates cybercrime.

The attack by unknown perpetrators began early Sunday, a statement from the regional health department said. The attack, according to investigators, is likely still ongoing.Lazio regional health councillor Alessio D’Amato assured more than 500,000 citizens that had already booked their Covid-19 vaccines through August 13 would still be able to get their shot.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, D’Amato called the attack “the most serious cyber-attack ever carried out on an Italian public administration.” “The technicians are working to safely reactivate the new bookings and no data has been stolen,” D’Amato said in a post on the region’s official Facebook page.

We all hope that this does not hamper the plans to vaccinate their citizens.

Until the next time Stay Safe

Total Cases Worldwide – 199,859,035

Total Deaths Worldwide – 4,253,835

Total Recovered Worldwide – 180,283,542

Total Active Cases Worldwide – 15,321,658 (7.7% of the total cases)

Total Closed Cases Worldwide – 184,537,377