Increasing spread of infection in Europe – new restrictions await in many countries

The United Kingdom, Russia and Turkey had the most cases of the virus in Europe last week, when the number of cases rose by seven percent in Europe compared to the previous week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

We are facing a perfect storm, Matthew Taylor, chief of the NHS, told the BBC earlier this week.

Matthew Taylor noted that the NHS is now preparing for what could be “the toughest winter ever”.

Shops and restaurants in Russia are closed

Russia has recorded in the past 24 hours a record number of deaths and cases of the virus, with 1,036 deaths and 36,339 cases, according to the AP news agency.

On Thursday, authorities presented a plan to impose new restrictions within a week and, among other things, close restaurants and most stores to slow the spread of infection, Reuters reports.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Health also announced a record number of new cases in the past 24 hours.

Concerns about the fifth wave in Finland

Europe was the only region in the world where the number of cases increased last week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and there is currently great concern in many countries. In Finland, coronation has deteriorated in recent weeks, and on the ECDC map of the infection situation in Europe, Finland has changed color from yellow to red, due to more cases.

Northern Norway, Germany and the Baltic states are also marked in red on the map.

Diagnostic director Läse Lehtunen in Helsinki and the Uusimaa Healthcare District (HYY) told the newspaper evening news Finland is now in the fifth wave that can be seen in the health care burden.

In Poland and Latvia, stricter restrictions were imposed after the number of coronavirus infections increased sharply. In Poland, it will be tougher on people who ignore wearing mouthguards, and in Latvia, where the vaccination rate is just over 50 percent, a lockdown is expected. For four weeks, schools and workplaces will be closed. There is also a curfew in the evening and at night.

Tegnell: Ready to take action

In Sweden, there is a risk of the infection spreading again during the fall and winter, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency. The commission laid out three possible new scenarios for the future of the government.

– If the spread of infection increases dramatically and the burden on health care increases sharply, we are of course ready to take measures, says Anders Tegnell in press release.