– Alarming

As Norwegians pack their bags and travel south for the summer, the incidence of variants BA.4 and BA.5 is increasing sharply in several European holiday destinations.

In several countries, tourists are warned about increased spread of infection, which could potentially hamper travel plans – and health authorities in some countries, including Cyprus, are now taking the step of recommending the use of face masks again.

Particularly in Greece, Spain, France and Germany, the number of cases of infection has increased in recent weeks.

– Intense wave

The World Health Organization warned before the weekend that a new and even more intense wave of the virus is at full speed through Europe. At the global level, the number of infections has increased by 30 percent in the last couple of weeks, writes Bloomberg.

– We are witnessing a much more intense wave of the disease that is passing through Europe again. And we will see it elsewhere as well – we are already seeing it in Southeast Asia and in the eastern Mediterranean region as well, WHO’s Chief of Emergency Management Michael Ryan said at a press conference.

The number of new cases of infection has increased in the last week by more than 40 percent in France, 34 percent in England and more than 20 percent in several other European countries, writes Financial Times.

– Alarming

Also in Spain, the infection has increased sharply in recent weeks – and Mallorca and Ibiza are among the holiday favorites that are hardest hit.

The increase in infection is according to The Guardian described as “alarming”, and it is reported that tourists’ appetite for parties and social gatherings, after a year of restrictions and recommendations, creates “idyllic” conditions for the spread of infection.

In addition, BA.4 and BA.5 spread more easily because they can to a greater extent infect people who have been vaccinated or have been infected before. However, the new variants do not yet appear to cause more serious illness.

Antonio Oliver, chief virologist at Mallorca’s largest hospital, Son Espases Hospital, says according to the newspaper that the current wave of infections is less visible than before, partly due to a high degree of vaccination and less monitoring of the infection by the authorities.

On a national basis in Spain, there are currently around 10,000 treated for corona, which constitutes 8 percent of the country’s hospital capacity. This is very low compared to when the infection rate was at its peak, but still high enough to cause a significant strain, he explains.