(Observer Network) The fourth round of epidemic swept Germany, with the daily increase of cases once exceeding 60,000. On the 22nd, German Health Minister Jens Spahn issued a stern warning: either get vaccinated, recover or die.
Recently, Europe has once again become the "epicentennium" of the epidemic, and vaccine policy has once again become the focus of attention. Faced with the severe situation, Austria issued regulations to implement "mandatory vaccination" from February 1 next year. In Germany, officials say that forced vaccination is "inevitable".
Screenshot of the Guardian report
Comprehensive reports from multiple media outlets such as the Guardian and Daily Mail. At a press conference held on the 22nd, German Health Minister Jens Spahn sternly warned: "Maybe by the end of winter, it is like a bit sarcastic statement that almost everyone in Germany will either get vaccinated, recover or die."
The fourth wave of the epidemic has overwhelmed the hospital. Shi Pan warned that the situation in the national intensive care unit is "extremely critical." "Many of our hospitals are facing very, very difficult situations," said Span. "
Span said that the highly contagious Delta variant strain is driving a new round of infections, "anyone who has not been vaccinated with will be infected with in the next few months, lacking protection."
"This is why we are so eager to recommend vaccination." Shipan called again: "Freedom means taking responsibility, and vaccination is the responsibility of society."
At present, the vaccination rate in Germany is only 68%, and is one of the countries with the lowest vaccination rate in Western Europe. But at the same time, according to data from the German disease control agency Robert Koch Institute, Germany's new confirmed cases of new crown on the 22nd reached 30,643, an increase of about 50% from a week ago, and the national incidence rate in Germany also rose to 386 per 100,000 people. Previously, on the 18th, Germany's new cases exceeded 60,000 in a single day, setting a new high.
As of now, the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Germany has reached nearly 100,000, reaching 99,130, and the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 5.4 million.
In response to this, the outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted that the current epidemic prevention measures taken by Germany are not enough to stop this "record wave." She said Germany needs stricter restrictions to control this wave of infection.
"We are in a very dramatic situation." The Guardian reported on the 22nd that Merkel said that the current measures are not enough.
On November 19, Germany issued new regulations, and began to implement "3G" rules in workplaces, buses and trains, allowing only those who have been fully vaccinated, recovered and have provided negative nucleic acid test results for the new coronavirus to enter. Public places such as cinemas, gyms and indoor restaurants have also begun to implement the "2G" rule, allowing only vaccinated and recovered people to enter.
Under the severe situation, more and more German officials are calling for the implementation of the "mandatory vaccination" policy to learn from Austria.
According to the Daily Mail on the 22nd, Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute, a German Disease Control Agency, described mandatory vaccination as a "lasting measure", but did not rule out this possibility. Thomas Bareiß, the German Federal Government’s Tourism Commissioner, said the situation shows that compulsory vaccination is “inevitable”.
Barrez told Deutsche News Agency: "Looking back, it was wrong to not see this from the beginning. The hope at that time was understandable, but it was not realistic."
However, due to his impending resignation, the Merkel administration did not give a clear plan on vaccine policy. Merkel's spokesperson made it clear, "There is no decision on this matter now, and this government will not make another decision."
is not only Germany, but the number of new crown cases in in Europe has risen sharply recently, becoming the "epicenter" of the epidemic again . Reuters reported on the 12th that Europe accounts for more than half of the number of infections in the world in the seven-day period, and the death toll accounts for about half, the highest since April last year. The World Health Organization warned that the number of new coronavirus deaths rose by 5% compared to last week.
Case trend chart of European countries from BBC
Germany's neighbor, Austria has soared due to the surge in confirmed cases. From the 22nd, the fourth national "lockdown" will be implemented, with a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 20 days. During this period, except for going to work, purchasing necessary items and exercising, people are not allowed to go out, and shops selling non-essential goods must be closed. Since the vaccination rate is only 65%, Austria also announced that will implement a compulsory vaccination policy from February 1 next year, becoming the first country in Europe to be forced to vaccinate.
Local time on November 22, 2021, Austria after the nationwide "lockdown". Image from Pengpai Image
On one side is the government that is eager to formulate a vaccine policy, and on the other side is the protesting crowd. Austria's epidemic prevention measures have triggered large-scale protests. On the 20th, 40,000 people took to the streets of the capital Vienna to protest the measure, clashing with the police.
At the same time, just over the weekend, violent protests broke out in European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, and France, causing thousands of injuries.
Recently, the number of infections in the Netherlands, which are also neighboring Germany, has surged, with more than 23,000 new cases on the 22nd. To this end, the Netherlands has tightened its anti-epidemic measures, requiring bars, restaurants, supermarkets and other business places to be closed in advance, and spectators are prohibited from watching sports events. But this also led to three consecutive days of violent protests, with at least 145 people arrested.
On November 20, 2021, local time, in Vienna, Austria, an anti-epidemic march broke out in the local area. Photo from Pengpai Image
Local time on November 20, 2021, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, protests were held in protest against the COVID-19 lockdown measures, and the streets were in a mess. Photo from The Paper Image
According to the BBC on the 22nd, Hans Henri P. Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO), said he was "very worried" about the rising coronavirus cases in Europe. Unless measures are strengthened throughout Europe, may have more than half a million deaths by next spring.
Kruger said, "The coronavirus has once again become the number one cause of death in our region (Europe)," and "we know what needs to be done to fight the virus - such as vaccination, wearing masks and using vaccine passes." He added that mandatory vaccination measures should be considered a "last-hand", but 's "legal and social debate" on the issue would be "very timely" .
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