The number of countries affected in the region by the new covid-19 variant rises to six after thirteen cases were confirmed in the Netherlands and two in Denmark
Europe has launched a “race against the clock” to stop the advance of the new variant of the coronavirus. This was recognized this Sunday by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on a day in which Ómicron continued to spread across the continent. There are already six countries affected by this strain, which, according to the EU Health Agency, represents a “high to very high” risk. In the last few hours, thirteen in the Netherlands and two in Denmark have been added to the cases already detected the day before in Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Italy, while Portugal and the Czech Republic work to confirm potentially suspicious infections.
Von der Leyen was convinced of the urgency and seriousness of the situation facing Europe with the arrival of variant B.1.1.529, discovered on Thursday in South Africa. However, he warned that vaccine manufacturers will need between two and three weeks “to get a general idea of the quality of the mutations.” The emergence of Ómicron also occurs at a very delicate time for the EU, which was already suffering a significant increase in cases of coronavirus at the gates of the Christmas holidays, which has forced the reestablishment of restrictions in some countries.
The Netherlands, where social anger has been most observed these days due to measures such as the extension of the mandatory use of masks and interpersonal distance, is precisely the one that has more cases of the new variant. The National Institute of Public Health and Environment yesterday confirmed thirteen of the 61 passengers who tested positive for covid-19 on Friday when returning from South Africa in two planes that landed at Schiphol airport. In any case, the health authorities have warned that the number is most likely to increase as there are “pending samples” to examine.
Denmark, for its part, became the sixth European country affected by Omicron on Sunday. The infectious diseases authority reported the cases of two people who traveled to the country by plane and have been isolated. “This was to be expected and therefore our strategy is to continue intensive monitoring of the infection,” said Henrik Ullum, director of the State Serum Institute.
In the United Kingdom and Germany, which on Saturday reported two infections each, yesterday they added two separate cases that raise their respective infections to three. The British Health Security Agency reported that the last person affected is an individual who is no longer in the country. It was linked to a trip to South Africa and remained in Westminster, in central London.
“It is very likely that we will find more cases as we increase the screening,” explained Jenny Harries, director of the agency. Meanwhile, the Minister of Social Affairs of the German state of Hesse, Kai Klose, confirmed that the infection detected in a passenger who arrived in the region from South Africa on Friday corresponds to the new variant.
Italy, with one infected, and Belgium with another last night completed a map to which Portugal and the Czech Republic fear joining soon, whose authorities are investigating suspicious cases. In France, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, acknowledged this Sunday that “it is a matter of hours” the discovery of the first contagion of the B.1.1.529 strain in the territory after its spread in neighboring countries.
Switzerland, the covid passport by referendum
. Swiss citizens approved this Sunday in a second referendum the mandatory nature of the so-called covid passport by a clear majority of 62%, according to the projection prepared by the GFS institute in Bern and collected by the SwissInfo news portal. This support contrasts with the protests against the health pass held in recent months in different cities of the country.
To avoid disturbances on voting day, the authorities tightened security measures. Proof of this is that access to the Federal Square in Bern was prohibited after an unauthorized rally was called. Even so, a few dozen protesters gathered outside the headquarters of the Government and Parliament, under close surveillance.
The Swiss covid passport is a printed or electronic document that certifies that the person who possesses it has been fully vaccinated against covid-19, has been cured or has tested negative. This document is usually necessary to cross borders and even to travel by plane. It is also mandatory to show it to enter a restaurant, attend large events with more than 1,000 people or participate in sports or cultural activities with more than 30 people.
Those who reject the certificate denounce that the part of the population that does not have it is marginalized and criticize the electronic tracking provided for in the same law. Therefore, they collected signatures and managed to force the second referendum held this Sunday, where the ‘yes’ has finally been imposed again, as it already happened in June, which was approved with 60% of the vote.
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