The pandemic is getting worse around the world, despite vaccines

London Despite increasing access to coronavirus vaccines, the pandemic is getting worse as the virus spreads and moves around the world, filling hospitals, devastating economies and forcing governments to issue massive blocking orders.

Britain is again in mass quarantine. The number of hospitalized in Mexico City is higher than ever. Germany recorded one of the highest number of deaths on Tuesday, and Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that the blockade in the country will last until January 31. South Africa and Brazil no longer have a place to put the dead, and even Thailand – so far a success in the fight against the disease – is suffering from an unusual wave of infections.

As COVID-19 cases increase as a result of social gatherings typical of the New Year holidays, a new and more contagious variant of the virus, initially detected in the UK, appears in several countries.

January “will be a difficult month,” said Dr. Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization. “The idea that ‘We’re tired of this, let’s think about something else, this won’t happen to me’ must stop. It really is a time when we all need to work together. “

Although the UK has launched a second vaccine this week and some US states are starting to apply the second of two doses of one of the vaccines, access to vaccinations around the world is uneven. Supply does not equate to the massive demand for injections needed to beat a disease that has already killed 1.85 million people.

“We have an intense pandemic in Europe, an intense pandemic in the United States,” Harris said. “The lower a country’s infection rate, the better positioned it will be for its vaccination strategy to be successful.”

England is going through its third mass quarantine, which this time will last at least six weeks, as authorities try to reduce infections and ease the burden on hospitals, so overwhelmed that in many cases there are patients waiting in ambulances. in the parking lots.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the measures, which will take effect on Tuesday at midnight and provide for the closure of schools, restaurants and all non-essential businesses until at least mid-February. Scotland’s leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has also imposed a quarantine, which will start on Tuesday.

The two leaders announced that measures are needed to protect the National Health Service and to stop the new variant of the virus that has triggered a sharp rise in infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

The UK National Health Service is “probably going through the most difficult period,” said Siva Anandaciva, an analyst with the King’s Fund think tank.

Denmark, fearing the new variant of the virus, has reduced the maximum number of people who can concentrate in one place from 10 to five.

In Italy, where hundreds of people die every day, authorities have extended the Christmas closure. Spain has restricted travel. France is expected to impose additional restrictions on Thursday, and schools and restaurants in Ukraine will be closed on Friday.