Rising coronary heart disease puts unvaccinated Europeans under new pressure
Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark are among the countries considering new rules on corona certificates. On Friday, the Norwegian government will hold a press conference after weeks of increased infection.
Winter is coming and with it the more corona infection in Europe. 44 regions have increased infection, reports the European Infection Control Agency, ECDC. In more and more countries, this means more infection control measures and more obstacles for the unvaccinated.
Among the countries that have set a new infection record is Germany. For the first time, they registered more than 50,000 new infections in one day.
This leads incoming Chancellor Olaf Scholz to propose a stricter corona regime. Next week, his new states will meet to discuss new initiatives.
– We have to do more to get through the winter. The virus is still among us and threatens the citizens’ health, says Scholz according to NTB.
Among the measures the three parties in government negotiations will present in the Bundestag are stricter measures against unvaccinated and stronger efforts for vaccination, including a third vaccine dose.
Just over 67 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, but the number is lower in some states. In Saxony, which is hardest hit by the wave of infections, just 57 percent are fully vaccinated. In this state, you must now prove that you have been vaccinated to enter a restaurant. A negative test is no longer enough, reports Reuters.
Both Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have announced stricter regulations for the unvaccinated.
The worsening infection situation affects the Danish queen, who is on a state visit to Germany. A planned state banquet in Bavaria is canceled.
Macron attaches vaccine pass to booster dose
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced new vaccine requirements. In France, there are signs of a fifth wave of infections.
People over the age of 65 must accept the offer of a booster dose if their vaccination passport is to remain valid. The new rule will apply from 15 December.
“If it’s been more than six months since you were vaccinated, I encourage you to book an appointment for a booster dose,” Macron said.
France has been offering a booster dose to anyone over 65 since September. 3.3 million have received this third dose, while 7.7 million French people over the age of 65 have the opportunity to receive an extra dose.
From the beginning of December, people aged 50–64 will also be offered a booster dose, at Macron.
The vaccine pass is needed in France to gain access to restaurants, cafes, gyms, cinemas, theaters, concerts and sporting events, to name a few.
Considering partial closure in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the development of infection is so serious that people have started talking about Western Europe’s first shutdown since the summer, writes Reuters.
An expert panel advising the government has proposed canceling some events, closing theaters and cinemas. Cafes and restaurants may have to close earlier in the evening.
The Dutch government will take a position on the proposals on Friday. They often follow the advice of experts.
Experts have suggested that after a two-week partial shutdown, access to public places should be restricted to people who are either fully vaccinated or who have recently recovered from coronary heart disease.
Denmark introduces requirements for vaccine passports
This summer, Denmark removed earlier requirements for a corona certificate. On Friday, the corona pandemic is again to be classified as a socially critical disease. There will be a requirement for vaccine passes at indoor restaurants, nightclubs and larger concerts and contexts where people gather closely.
These are events where over 200 people gather indoors or 2000 people gather outdoors.
People who recover from corona infection can also get a corona certificate. But it will only be valid for six months after you become ill, reports Berlingske. Several other countries in Europe also have a 180-day corona certificate limit for people who have been infected in the past.
The government convenes a press conference
On Friday at 12.00, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and several other ministers will hold a press conference on the corona situation. It happens after several weeks with increased infection rates. On Friday, it became clear that for the second time in the last week, more than 2,000 new infections have been registered in the last 24 hours.
In Norway, it has not been relevant to require someone to show a corona certificate to enter some places. For Norwegians, a corona certificate is something you have used when traveling abroad.
That may change.
– A national initiative that may be relevant is an opportunity to use the corona certificate, says health director Bjørn Guldvog to VG.
FHI plans to give booster doses to people under 65 in Norway as well.
– We expect that it will happen and that it will be relevant, says director of public health Camilla Stoltenberg to NRK.
Stoltenberg calls the third dose an important move now, in addition to staying home when one is ill.