The situation of intensive care
"is highly dramatic"
. This was stated by the health minister of Baden-Wuerttemberg, announcing that the Land
is preparing to send patients also abroad and has already received availability from Italy (Lombardy), France and Switzerland
. "We are preparing to transfer patients abroad, if necessary," said Manne Lucha: the burden of the hospitals is immense "and people can't take it anymore". For days, several German landers have been transferring patients due to the heavy burden of resuscitation. In recent days Bavaria has sent two patients to Italy, in Bolzano and Merano.
Germany is preparing to discuss in Parliament the generalized vaccination obligation for Covid and
is moving towards a sort of lockdown for the unvaccinated
. This is what emerges from the communiqué of Merkel's spokesperson, Steffen Seibert. "Various proposals are being evaluated - reads, in view of Thursday's summit - such as the introduction of a limitation of wider contacts especially for unvaccinated, even in private meetings, the expansion of 2G also in the retail trade and the limitations for major events. In addition, a decision will be prepared on a generalized vaccination obligation, in addition to the one addressed to the categories ".
The British government
intends to guarantee the third dose of the Covid vaccine (booster) to the entire adult population by the end of January. Boris Johnson said this, pointing to vaccines as the crucial weapon to contain the Omicron variant, waiting for "our scientists to crush it". Prime Minister and Minister Sajid Javid recalled how the Kingdom started first of all with vaccines and how the current situation is "much better" than in previous waves. They added that the vaccination campaign will resume at its initial pace, with the reopening of extra centers and the use of "400 soldiers".
In Austria, on February 1st, the vaccination obligation will start and the unshakable no vaxes could risk a fine of 3,600 euros
which could even be doubled in case of non-compliance. This is foreseen by a draft of the government which today is examining the bill for the introduction of the vaccination obligation. A measure, according to health minister Wolfgang Mueckstein, "without alternatives" given the low rate (about 70%) of vaccinated people. The obligation should exclude elementary school children. EU affairs minister Karolina Edstadler specified that the amount of the fine has not yet been fixed.
The ECDC, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, has detected 42 cases of the Omicron variant registered so far in the EU while investigations are underway on six other possible suspected infections.
This was announced by the head of the ECDC, Andrea Ammon, underlining that all confirmed cases to date show symptoms of mild disease or are asymptomatic.
Greece will make Covid vaccination mandatory for people aged 60 and over
.
A decision that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined was "the price to pay for health", according to reports from the Greek media.