The fourth wave of Covid hits Europe. The bulletins photograph the numbers of infections and deaths, while forecasts are made on the possible impact of the Omicron variant pending data on the symptoms, danger and efficacy of vaccines against Delta’s ‘heir’. The latest alarm comes from the experts of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine according to which the variant could cause between 25 thousand and 75 thousand deaths in England in the next five months if new anti Covid measures are not adopted in the country. Meanwhile, the news of a contagion in Liguria with the Omicron variant and of a probable case also in Lazio is today. Here is the situation in the different countries.
ITALY
I am 21,042 new coronavirus infections in Italy according to the bulletin of the Ministry of Health and Civil Protection of Saturday 11 December 2021. Furthermore, another 96 dead. 565,077 swabs performed in 24 hours, for a positivity rate of 3.7%. There are 76 admissions to intensive care in the last 24 hours which bring the total number of patients in intensive care to 818. Net of discharged, there are two more hospitalized than yesterday. There is also an increase in hospitalized patients with symptoms that are 56 more and bring the total of patients to 6,539.
Since the beginning of the emergency the infected have been 5,206,305 while the victims 134,765. The healed rose to 4,797,658 and 10,205 more than yesterday. To date in Italy the positives are 273,882, 10,734 more in 24 hours.
GREAT BRITAIN
There are 54,073 new infections and 132 deaths in the latest bulletin of 11 December 2021 in Great Britain. Among the new Covid infections, there are 633 those in which the Omicron variant has been identified, the highest number recorded so far in 24 hours. In total, 1,898 cases of the Omicron variant are confirmed to date.
In addition, one is required new squeeze on Omicron by December 18 or hospitals will go haywire in England. The alarm, as reported by The Guardian newspaper, based on a confidential report from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA): even if the Omicron variant causes milder symptoms than the Delta, up to 5,000 hospitalizations a day would be risked.
Too many for the hospital network, as explained to Health Minister Sajid Javid. “Strict measures are needed by December 18” if Omicron-induced infections continue to double every 2.5 days. “Even if the interval goes up to 5 days, strict measures would still be needed in December,” the document said. “The rapid roll-out of Omicron means action to reduce the pressure on the healthcare system should materialize sooner than assumed.” Omicron could become dominant soon, with the prospect of a million cases linked to the variant by the end of the month.
In short, the turning point that has just materialized with the ‘plan B’ launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not be enough. Since yesterday, masks have been mandatory in most of the indoor gathering places: cinemas, theaters, churches, museums and sports facilities, such as stadiums and arenas. From Monday, the return to smart working is urged.
FRANCE
In France, there were 53,720 new Covid infections and 66 deaths, recorded in the report of 11 December 2021. The number of cases is slightly lower than the previous one, which was over 55 thousand. In hospitals there are 13,855 hospitalized for Coronavirus with a 30% increase compared to last week’s hospitalizations.
GERMANY
In the last 24 hours, 53,697 infections and 510 deaths from covid-19 have been recorded in Germany. This was reported by the Robert Koch Institute (Rki), communicating the data of the bulletin of 11 December 2021. The weekly incidence remains high, with 402.9 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, but there is a decrease compared to last week when it stood around 450 cases.
The infections since the beginning of the pandemic are now close to 6.5 million cases: at the moment there are a total of 6,477,217. Deaths have reached 105,506, making Germany the third EU country for the number of Covid deaths after Italy and France.
RUSSIA
In the last 24 hours, another 30,288 infections from Covid have been recorded in Russia. Coronavirus deaths are also decreasing: the task force that follows the trend of the epidemic reports another 1,176 deaths yesterday.