Concerns about Covid-19 outbreaks and mutations; in part of Denmark – quarantine / Article / LSM.lv

At a time when the United States is retiring its political passions, the prevalence of Covid-19 is increasing. A new high point of infection has been recorded, exceeding one hundred thousand cases per day. Meanwhile, new restrictions are coming into force in the UK, but millions of mink are planned to be killed in Denmark – a potentially dangerous mutation of the virus has been detected in fur animals.

Emotions hit a high wave in the United States during the countdown to the presidential election. There have been a number of protests, for example in Las Vegas, where supporters of Donald Trump are questioning the fairness of the vote count, which is currently in favor of Joe Biden. New unrest has also erupted in Portland, where the National Guard has been sent again.

Under these circumstances, US infectologists have to report another record – more than 108 thousand new cases of Covid-19 infection in the last day. The number of deaths has exceeded two hundred. It is still less than in April, when the number of deaths per day in the United States regularly exceeded two and a half thousand.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, there are new restrictions on Covid-19. The UK will start closing the entertainment and services sector for at least three weeks from 5 November. Last night, thousands of Britons, despite the recommendations of epidemiologists, were still in a hurry to visit nightclubs and sip their last pint in bars before the ban began.

“It simply came to our notice then. For the first time, the streets were empty. There was no party last night. People wanted to close everything because they were scared. Now you see the full streets, it’s a completely different feeling, “said a nightclub owner.

Along with bars and restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, swimming pools and small shops will close. In addition, officials warn that the restrictions may be extended if the situation does not improve.

A similar decision was taken by Germany at the beginning of the week, closing the sectors for four weeks. In Italy, meanwhile, a curfew takes effect on Thursday evening.

Denmark, on the other hand, reports a potentially dangerous mutation in Covid-19 that has infected the mink. Denmark is the largest farmer of these fur animals in Europe and is reportedly going to slaughter up to 17 million mink.

This was confirmed by the Danish Prime Minister, Mete Fredriksen: “The infection was found in 207 mink farms, despite intense attempts to stop the spread of the infection. At the same time, infection with new, mutated strains of coronavirus has been observed both in slaughtered Danish mink and in local people. Consequently, it has not been possible to stop the spread of the infection among humans or, in other words,

the virus in the mink has mutated and infected humans. “

The mutation in the virus raises concerns that Covid-19 vaccines, which are currently under development, may not work as expected. Danish healthcare professionals point out that the samples tested for this new type of virus from human infections show reduced susceptibility to antibodies.

The Danish government on Thursday imposed a quarantine regime in seven municipalities in the west of the country, where the new coronavirus has been mutated and transmitted between mink and humans. Some 280,000 people in seven municipalities in northern Jutland have been advised not to leave their region until 3 December.

These municipalities have closed public transport, museums, swimming pools and gyms. Restaurants and bars will be available for take-away only from Saturday.

People are advised to work from home if possible, and gatherings are limited to ten people. The government has called on all residents of these municipalities to take the Covid-19 tests.

High school students and fifth to eighth grade students will move on to studying remotely from Monday.

CONTEXT:

About the new coronavirus spread China informed the World Health Organization (WHO) late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, home to 11 million people. WHO in March 2020 announcedthat Covid-19 has reached the level of a global pandemic.

A few months later, in the summer, there was a decline in the spread of the infection in Europe, which led to the lifting of a series of strict restrictions. However, in mid-September WHO warnedthat Europe will face an increase in Covid-19 coronavirus deaths in the autumn months.

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