SVT’s Aktuellt presents completely new figures that show a very sharp increase in the spread of the coronavirus in the EU and the Schengen area. In one week, the number of reported deaths has increased by 54 percent.
– It is surprising that the increase has come so fast and so early in the autumn, says Jan Albert, professor of infection control at Karolinska Institutet. SVT Nyheter has previously reported that Europe remains at the center of the increased spread of covid-19, and that more shutdowns are expected.
The latest figures from the European Institute of Infectious Disease Control now show an increase in the number of deaths. 54 percent more were reported between week 42 and week 43.
Before week 42, the EU and Schengen had 5,261 cases – now there are 8,107 cases. Professor of infection control Jan Albert believes that the increase may be due to several factors:
– Partly that you felt that it did not become so dangerous over the summer and that you then returned to a more normal life, and then perhaps also that the virus’ ability to spread best in winter has been stronger than one might have imagined. ECDC also sees that the spread of the coronavirus is increasing very sharply, even in countries that have not been hit hard in the past.
“Does not look good” The countries that have suffered the fastest growth are the Czech Republic, Belgium and Slovenia. To arrive at this, the institute has looked at the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants – the last 14 days. In the Czech Republic, there are 1,452 cases, followed by Belgium with 1405 cases.
In Slovenia, there are 792 infected per 100,000. – It does not look good. It reflects how difficult it is to shut out the virus completely, says Jan Albert. “Helping in the short term” However, the United Kingdom, France and Spain remain the hardest hit countries. Among other things, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that a new national shutdown will be introduced from Friday.
Albert believes that action is needed – but that shutdown may not be the best course of action. – I think it helps in the short term. If no one hangs out with anyone, there will be no spread of infection. But you eventually have to let it go, and then it risks taking worse speed, he says.
* The ECDC’s definition of Europe is different from that of the WHO. The ECDC only includes the EU / EEA and the United Kingdom, while the WHO also includes Russia and the former Soviet states.
Source: svt.se
