The fourth wave in Europe (and beyond) is now a reality. Cases continue to increase in Spain where 27,688 new infections and 41 new deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, despite the fact that the Balearic Islands did not report the data due to technical problems. In total, 4,069,162 people have been infected since the start of the pandemic, while the total victims of the virus are 81,084. What is impressive is the incidence of cases at 14 days, which was equal to 500.75 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest figure since February. As El Pais explains, for the age group between 20 and 29 this indicator skyrockets to 1,581 cases. The pressure on hospitals is also growing: compared to yesterday there are 238 more patients in ordinary wards and 40 in intensive care.
It is no better in the United Kingdom where the number of victims is also starting to grow. In the last 24 hours, 48,553 cases and 63 deaths have been recorded, the highest number of deaths since April 9th. Yesterday there were 42,302 and 49 respectively.
In Ireland the infections are doubling
Ireland is also facing a new and violent wave of the virus. Today 994 new infections were recorded, the highest number since February, notes the Guardian, recalling that last week the average was 500 cases per day. The head of the health service, Paul Reid, spoke of a “very significant acceleration,” writes the Irish Times. At the moment the increase in infections has not translated into an increase in hospitalizations: there are 80 covid patients in hospital, of which 22 in intensive care. One in twenty infected people are fully vaccinated, but Reid stressed that immunization “protects very well against hospitalization”, at a level above 90%. The positive effect of vaccination is underlined by the fact that 87% of active cases involve people under 45. Many new cases are reported in people who have returned from holidays in Spain, Portugal or Great Britain. Meanwhile, cases are also rising in Northern Ireland, where for the first time since January the threshold of one thousand daily infections has been exceeded.
Cases on the rise in Israel, new restrictions are not ruled out
Israel is also dealing with a new wave of Sars-Cov-2 with 765 infections in the last 24 hours, up from 756 yesterday. Today’s is the highest figure since last April. In the last week, there have also been 4 deaths in the country, after two weeks in which there had been none.
The new director general of the Israeli health ministry, Nachman Ash, does not rule out that the country may have to return to the lockdown again in September, during the period of Jewish holidays starting with Rosh Hashana, given the resumption of infections due to the delta variant. “I think we could get to a point where we say: we need a lockdown,” he told the Times of Israel broadcaster Channel 13. Ash added that he hopes this isn’t necessary.
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