The author of the photo, Archyde.com
The total number of people infected with coronavirus in the world has exceeded 400 million people, while countries are gradually lifting restrictions, although mainly for vaccinated people.
The highly contagious version of Omicron continues to spread around the world. According to Archyde.com, the total number of infected people exceeded 400 million on Wednesday, and regarding 2 million new cases of infections are registered every day in the world.
In order for the number of infections to grow from 300 million to today’s figure, it took a little more than a month, compared with five months to reach 300 million from the previous round figure of 200 million.
The top five countries reporting the most cases in an average of seven days – the United States, France, Germany, Russia and Brazil – account for regarding 37% of all reported new cases worldwide, according to a Archyde.com analysis.
Despite the fact that a million new cases are still detected in Europe almost every day, some countries are gradually lifting restrictions, since Omicron, although more contagious than Delta, is much easier, without creating such a burden on health systems as was observed in the first waves of the pandemic.
Spain: masks are no longer needed on the streets, but children over 12 years old cannot enter the country without double vaccination
The author of the photo, Archyde.com
Due to the requirement for double vaccination of children, many British families “flew” with school holidays in Spain
Spain will abolish the requirement to wear masks outdoors next week as part of easing coronavirus restrictions amid declining mortality and the number of hospitalizations.
Masks on the street became mandatory at the end of December 2021, when an outbreak of Omicron began in the country.
Regional authorities in Northern Aragon, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands have also lifted restrictions on the number of assemblies.
In addition, local authorities have abolished the need to require visitors to bars and restaurants to have a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test.
In Catalonia, covid passes were canceled a week ago.
However, for tourists with children over the age of 12, Spain seems to remain inaccessible. The fact is that in order to enter the country for recreation, it is necessary that a person be vaccinated at least twice, and this also applies to teenagers from 12 years old.
Such a requirement hurts both the owners of Spanish hotels and British families, who, according to tradition, have already booked the next school holidays in this European country and were forced to cancel trips. In the UK, the second dose is recommended for everyone only from the age of 16, for children from 12 to 15 years, it is offered only if there are risk factors.
“The loss of the Canary Islands may amount to almost 400 million euros. This only applies to hotels – if we take into account the restaurant economy, this is an even greater loss. More than 2.5 million British citizens come to Tenerife every year. For us, this part of the year, the school holidays, is one of the most important. All this profit will be lost,” says Jorge Marichal, president of the Tenerife Hoteliers Association, calling on the Spanish government to change the current rules so that more British families can come.
United Arab Emirates: the number of infections is decreasing, restrictions are gradually being lifted
The author of the photo, Getty Images
The UAE has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world – 92% of the population is fully vaccinated here, 98% of residents received at least one dose.
The United Arab Emirates is beginning to gradually lift the restrictions in force in the country. Thus, the ban on travel to 12 African countries has been lifted in the country, but only for vaccinated citizens.
In addition, from mid-February, bars, restaurants and other enclosed spaces will be able to operate with maximum capacity.
Over the past day, four people have died from coronavirus in the country, the number of hospitalizations and infections is gradually decreasing.
Great Britain: the “Living with coronavirus” strategy and the investigation of cases of vaccine overdose in children
The author of the photo, European PressPhoto
In England, some of the mildest restrictions in Europe are already in effect, and they may soon be lifted
In Scotland, cases of incorrect dosage of Pfizer vaccine received by children are being investigated. According to the Daily Record, four children in the country aged 5 to 11 years received a double dose of the vaccine, subsequently one child fell ill.
Subsequently, this information was confirmed by the National Health Service of the county of Lanarkshire, where they made a mistake.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that representatives of the service have already apologized to parents and monitored vials of vaccines to prevent a repeat of the situation.
She also assured that an overdose of the vaccine does not cause harm, but the Scottish authorities will closely monitor the vaccination of children.
And in England, as part of the “Living with coronavirus” strategy, the last remaining coronavirus restrictions may be lifted in February, including mandatory self-isolation for those who test positive for Covid-19.
This was announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, noting at the same time that this will happen provided that the current encouraging trends continue.
On Wednesday, 68 thousand new cases of infections were recorded in the UK, 276 people died. Over the past seven days, the number of infected people has decreased by 23%, and the mortality rate has decreased by 16% compared to the previous week.
Initially, the last restrictions were supposed to be lifted on March 24, 2022.
In addition, the Prime minister said that the need to fill out forms for arrival in the country and take tests following arrival will remain only for unvaccinated citizens.
Deputies of the British Parliament will discuss these and other changes when they return from vacation, on February 21.