Coronavirus in the world: Von der Leyen warns of easing – politics

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against premature easing of requirements to fight the crown pandemic. Before the European Parliament he stressed the risk of a third wave. “I know that shopkeepers, bar operators and waiters in restaurants want to end the restrictions,” von der Leyen said. “But we have to learn from the summer and not make the same mistakes,” he said, considering conditions had largely been lifted in the summer.

Covid-19 was the leading cause of death in the European Union last week, with nearly 3,000 deaths per day. But there is hope: “The first European citizens could be vaccinated by the end of December,” von der Leyen said. “Finally there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

The European Commission has now entered into contracts with six vaccine companies. But vaccinations are even more important than vaccines. “Member States need to prepare now,” asked the head of the commission. “We are talking about millions of syringes and the cold chain, organization of vaccination centers, staff training and much more.” EU states should ensure the logistics for administering hundreds of millions of vaccine doses.

Von der Leyen had only announced on Tuesday that a contract had been negotiated with US vaccine manufacturer Moderna for 160 million doses. This will allow Europeans to access all three vaccines that have a chance to gain approval for Europe in the coming weeks. Before doing this, however, the Medicines Agency (EMA) needs to verify safety and efficacy.

USA: highest number of deaths per crown since early May

In the United States, the number of corona deaths recorded in one day has risen to its highest level since the beginning of May. On Tuesday, authorities reported 2,146 deaths with a confirmed coronavirus infection, according to data from the University of Johns Hopkins (JHU). The same day the previous week was 1692. The highest value to date was reached on April 15 with 2609 deaths in one day.

At the same time, there were 172,935 new crown cases nationwide on Tuesday. In the previous week, about 160,500 new infections were reported on the same day. The highest value so far in one day was recorded on Friday with around 196,000 new infections.

In total, more than 12.5 million people have been infected with the coronavirus in the country with approximately 330 million inhabitants. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 259,000 people have died from the pathogen Sars-CoV-2. In absolute terms, it is more than in any other country in the world.

Trudeau suspects Canada will have to wait for the vaccine

Canadians will not be the first to receive coronavirus vaccinations, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. People are very likely to be vaccinated first in countries where the drugs are made, Trudeau said. Germany, the United States and Great Britain have mass production facilities, but Canada does not. It is understandable if a US company distributes its vaccine first in the US.

“We expect to receive these doses in early 2021,” Trudeau said. Canada has signed contracts for a number of vaccine candidates. Opposition leader Erin O’Toole has criticized the government for failing to ensure that Canada takes precedence in accessing vaccines.

Italy and Austria discuss a ski ban

Austria and Italy are discussing this winter’s ski season. Italy is asking for ski slopes across Europe to be closed at Christmas. This year it is not possible to “allow holidays in the snow”, said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Austria refuses Italy’s request. “In general, I don’t believe in Italy’s proposal to close Austrian ski resorts,” Finance Minister Gernot Blümel told Reuters news agency. The conservative politician added that if the EU had actually put an end to winter tourism, it would have demanded compensation. “If the EU actually pretends that ski resorts have to remain closed, that means costs of up to two billion euros,” Blümel said. It was referring to a period of about a month around the Christmas season.

Tourism accounts for around 15 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs in the winter alone. There are more than 59 million overnight stays per winter season. In Austria, the lifts and cable cars in the glacier areas are currently inactive until 6 December due to the blockade.

It is still unclear when operations will resume and when popular ski resorts such as Sölden, Ischgl, St. Anton and Saalbach will actually open their season. What is certain is that there should be strict rules. For example, when queuing for a cable car, you need to keep a distance of one meter and wear mouth and nose protection in the gondolas. Après-ski parties were banned weeks ago.

Last winter, the Tyrolean ski resort of Ischgl, known for its après-ski scene, transformed itself into a Corona hotspot. Thousands of vacationers were infected there at the start of the pandemic and then spread the virus around the world. Overcrowded après-ski bars, in particular, were considered the ideal breeding ground for the spread of the virus.

Also in Italy many regions are currently blocked with restrictions that will remain in force at least until 3 December. The situation is different in Switzerland. Despite an equally large number of positive testers, the ski resorts are open. The country hopes to overcome the crisis by wearing masks and distance rules.

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Qantas airline is considering introducing electronic vaccination logs

Australian airline Qantas is considering introducing a corona vaccination pass for passengers. If a vaccine is widely available, Qantas could require international travelers to get vaccinated before the flight, airline director Alan Joyce told Network Nine. Qantas has already spoken to other airlines about a vaccination certificate.

Joyce said such a document would require a lot of thought, logistics and perhaps government help. Think of an electronic vaccination card that certifies which vaccination the holder received and whether it will be accepted at the travel destination.

Australia has imposed one of the toughest travel restrictions in the world due to the pandemic. International travel is therefore only possible under certain conditions. In the country of 26 million people, just under 28,000 infections and just over 900 deaths from the virus have been recorded.

WHO warns that the hasty wreath fades during Christmas

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against easing restrictions on the wreath during Christmas if authorities don’t have the infection process fully under control. “If people are infected with each other and if a country lacks the infrastructure to prosecute cases and isolate contacts and quarantine them, the easing will lead to more contagion,” said the emergency aid coordinator of the country. ‘WHO Mike Ryan in Geneva.

Governments need to be aware that they can only weigh the risks. There is no scientific formula for which relief is justifiable or how many holidays are safe without important requirements. “There is just an increasing risk that the situation will get better or worse,” he said. Governments should weigh the risks of further spread of the virus with the economic and social risks of maintaining restrictions. If people are not allowed to meet during the holidays, there is great frustration, crown fatigue and perhaps resistance to measures, he admitted.