International COVID-19 Megathread

[Tender Branson]

Week in review:

New cases in Austria have dipped below 10.000 per week for the first time since mid October.

Weekly deaths have gone down to 300, the lowest level since early November.

Hospitalisations/ICU are back to late October/early November levels.

About 3% of the population is vaccinated by now (with dose #1), which of course is not a lot given the production/distribution problems in the EU.

My district, Zell am See, now has a much lower 7-day incidence than Austria as a whole and especially compared with the state of Salzburg - which is 3 times higher than that of Zell am See and double that of Austria. There were times when Zell am See district had one of the highest infection rates though.

[Tender Branson]

Austria takes care of Portuguese intensive care patients

On the weekend, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) offered help to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, whose country was recently hit particularly hard by the rampant corona virus. As the Federal Chancellery announced on Sunday, Austria will take over the care and treatment of Portuguese intensive care patients. The details will be clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

"The corona pandemic poses massive challenges for all European countries. It is a requirement of European solidarity to help quickly and unbureaucratically in order to save human lives. Austria has already taken in intensive care patients from France, Italy and Montenegro in the pandemic and is now going to do so also accept intensive care patients from Portugal ", stated Kurz. How many patients will be brought to Austria from Portugal is currently being clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The situation in Portugal had recently worsened massively. In just one day, 12,435 new infections and 293 deaths were recorded in the country of ten million people. According to the authorities, only seven intensive care beds were available across the country.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Austria takes care of Portuguese intensive care patients

On the weekend, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) offered help to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, whose country was recently hit particularly hard by the rampant corona virus. As the Federal Chancellery announced on Sunday, Austria will take over the care and treatment of Portuguese intensive care patients. The details will be clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

"The corona pandemic poses massive challenges for all European countries. It is a requirement of European solidarity to help quickly and unbureaucratically in order to save human lives. Austria has already taken in intensive care patients from France, Italy and Montenegro in the pandemic and is now going to do so also accept intensive care patients from Portugal ", stated Kurz. How many patients will be brought to Austria from Portugal is currently being clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The situation in Portugal had recently worsened massively. In just one day, 12,435 new infections and 293 deaths were recorded in the country of ten million people. According to the authorities, only seven intensive care beds were available across the country.

Good move from Kurz.

[Mike88]

Austria takes care of Portuguese intensive care patients

On the weekend, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) offered help to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, whose country was recently hit particularly hard by the rampant corona virus. As the Federal Chancellery announced on Sunday, Austria will take over the care and treatment of Portuguese intensive care patients. The details will be clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

"The corona pandemic poses massive challenges for all European countries. It is a requirement of European solidarity to help quickly and unbureaucratically in order to save human lives. Austria has already taken in intensive care patients from France, Italy and Montenegro in the pandemic and is now going to do so also accept intensive care patients from Portugal ", stated Kurz. How many patients will be brought to Austria from Portugal is currently being clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The situation in Portugal had recently worsened massively. In just one day, 12,435 new infections and 293 deaths were recorded in the country of ten million people. According to the authorities, only seven intensive care beds were available across the country.

Weird. No one is reporting this in Portugal*. Maybe the government will announce it later today. So far, there are already patients being sent to Madeira island, and Germany is also expected to receive Portuguese patients.

Still, thank you Austria!

* P.S.: Update, the media is starting to report the story here.

[CumbrianLefty]

Ireland should leave the EU. They have far more in common with northern Ireland and the rest of the UK than the EU.

5/10, must try harder

[Tender Branson]

Austria takes care of Portuguese intensive care patients

On the weekend, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) offered help to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, whose country was recently hit particularly hard by the rampant corona virus. As the Federal Chancellery announced on Sunday, Austria will take over the care and treatment of Portuguese intensive care patients. The details will be clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

"The corona pandemic poses massive challenges for all European countries. It is a requirement of European solidarity to help quickly and unbureaucratically in order to save human lives. Austria has already taken in intensive care patients from France, Italy and Montenegro in the pandemic and is now going to do so also accept intensive care patients from Portugal ", stated Kurz. How many patients will be brought to Austria from Portugal is currently being clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The situation in Portugal had recently worsened massively. In just one day, 12,435 new infections and 293 deaths were recorded in the country of ten million people. According to the authorities, only seven intensive care beds were available across the country.

Weird. No one is reporting this in Portugal*. Maybe the government will announce it later today. So far, there are already patients being sent to Madeira island, and Germany is also expected to receive Portuguese patients.

Still, thank you Austria!

* P.S.: Update, the media is starting to report the story here.

I think this is a good idea, theoretically.

Practically, I don’t know ...

80-year old with heavy Covid should probably not be transported from the Portugal hospital to the airport, then fly 2.000km and then be transported again to a hospital.

Not sure how complicated this is and if the transport is nasty for the 80+ year old or not.

If the transport is easy, Portugal can send over 30 or 50 or so.

[Mike88]

Austria takes care of Portuguese intensive care patients

On the weekend, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) offered help to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, whose country was recently hit particularly hard by the rampant corona virus. As the Federal Chancellery announced on Sunday, Austria will take over the care and treatment of Portuguese intensive care patients. The details will be clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

"The corona pandemic poses massive challenges for all European countries. It is a requirement of European solidarity to help quickly and unbureaucratically in order to save human lives. Austria has already taken in intensive care patients from France, Italy and Montenegro in the pandemic and is now going to do so also accept intensive care patients from Portugal ", stated Kurz. How many patients will be brought to Austria from Portugal is currently being clarified with the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The situation in Portugal had recently worsened massively. In just one day, 12,435 new infections and 293 deaths were recorded in the country of ten million people. According to the authorities, only seven intensive care beds were available across the country.

Weird. No one is reporting this in Portugal*. Maybe the government will announce it later today. So far, there are already patients being sent to Madeira island, and Germany is also expected to receive Portuguese patients.

Still, thank you Austria!

* P.S.: Update, the media is starting to report the story here.

I think this is a good idea, theoretically.

Practically, I don’t know ...

80-year old with heavy Covid should probably not be transported from the Portugal hospital to the airport, then fly 2.000km and then be transported again to a hospital.

Not sure how complicated this is and if the transport is nasty for the 80+ year old or not.

If the transport is easy, Portugal can send over 30 or 50 or so.

There's still no info on how that will play out, how many patients will be sent to Austria or their ages. Like the report says, the Portuguese government will provide the info, but nothing yet. Also, today, the number of new deaths reached, again, more than 300.

[Tender Branson]

Once again, 5.000 or so (mostly conspiracy theorists and FPÖ-voters) protested again today in Vienna against COV-restrictions, despite police banning most large scale events beforehand.

The situation was tense, with some protesters spitting and shouting at journalists and the police, calling them Lügenpresse (lying press).

But no riots like in the Netherlands.

Kurz will likely announce the easing of the 3rd lockdown tomorrow anyway, to relieve the pressure on those nuts. Retail, schools etc. will re-open on Feb. 8th.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-austria-demo-idUSKBN2A00K5

[CumbrianLefty]

Once again, 5.000 or so (mostly conspiracy theorists and FPÖ-voters)

Large overlap between the two, it goes without saying.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Today is the so-called "vaccination summit" of German federal and state governments. A couple of politicians have also started to ramp up their rhetoric, including Markus "Bavarian Che Guevara" Söder (CSU) who has gone on the record saying that the free market has failed in producing vaccines in adequate numbers, and that the government taking control of and directing vaccine production must be on the table as an option. Perhaps as a result of these threats, a couple of biopharmaceutical companies have started to promise to increase their vaccine deliveries.

(This was probably Markus Söder at his most Söder btw. If there's something that it is very popular/populist with the additional benefit of being very authoritarian you can be certain that Söder is always going to go for it. Not that I necessarily disagree with him in this specific case (provided that it would actually help produce more vaccine), but it also shows his general lack of convictions and principles IMO. He's switching back and forth between positions that could be at home in the AfD, Greens, Left Party, or FDP depending on which ones are most popular/populist and/or most authoritarian at any given point.)

[Tender Branson]

Austria to end the 3rd lockdown next Monday.

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/live-was-nach-dem-lockdown-am-82-wieder-oeffnet/401174920

Retail stores, schools, museums, zoos, hairdressers, massage therapists will all open again.

All of this will happen with extreme safety measures though:

Retail stores are only allowed to let in 1 FFP2-mask-wearing customer per 20m² of space.

Hairdressers, therapists are only allowed to accept customers who provide a test result that is not older than 48 hours.

Students will have blocked lessons with MO/WE/FR one week, then TU/TH the other week, to limit class sizes.

The lockdown (exit restrictions) during the day will end and will only remain during 8pm and 6am (night curfew).

Fines will be increased significantly for black sheep who don't follow the new rules.

There will be tougher entry and exit measures at the borders to other countries and at airports.

Gastro & hotels will remain closed.

[Tender Branson]

Austria to loosen lockdown, allowing shops and schools to reopen

VIENNA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Austria will loosen its coronavirus lockdown next week, switching to a nighttime curfew from all-day restrictions on movement and letting non-essential shops and schools reopen.

The conservative-green government announced the move despite coronavirus infections staying higher than it would like, citing the social toll of continuing the country’s third lockdown, which began on Dec. 26.



“Epidemiologically the issue is clear. The safest course would be to remain in lockdown,” Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a news conference after discussions with scientific experts, influential provincial governors and opposition parties.

“But we know there is also children’s need to go back to school, there is the necessity of doing everything to keep unemployment as low as possible and there are of course also the social and psychological aspects that must also be taken into account,” he said, adding that the easing will start on Feb. 8.

Only pupils who have been tested will be allowed to attend lessons, with others able to join online, the government said in a statement, adding that tests will be carried out in schools and older pupils’ classes will be split into separate groups.

Shops’ customers will have to wear FFP2 face masks - a higher standard than basic textile masks. Such masks are already required on public transport and the essential shops that are open. Museums, galleries and zoos will also be allowed to reopen, the government statement said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-austria/update-1-austria-to-loosen-lockdown-allowing-shops-and-schools-to-reopen-idUSL1N2K71X0

https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/01/10-000-people-rally-against-austrian-police-in-anti-lockdown-protest-in-vienna

[President Johnson]

Today is the so-called "vaccination summit" of German federal and state governments. A couple of politicians have also started to ramp up their rhetoric, including Markus "Bavarian Che Guevara" Söder (CSU) who has gone on the record saying that the free market has failed in producing vaccines in adequate numbers, and that the government taking control of and directing vaccine production must be on the table as an option. Perhaps as a result of these threats, a couple of biopharmaceutical companies have started to promise to increase their vaccine deliveries.

(This was probably Markus Söder at his most Söder btw. If there's something that it is very popular/populist with the additional benefit of being very authoritarian you can be certain that Söder is always going to go for it. Not that I necessarily disagree with him in this specific case (provided that it would actually help produce more vaccine), but it also shows his general lack of convictions and principles IMO. He's switching back and forth between positions that could be at home in the AfD, Greens, Left Party, or FDP depending on which ones are most popular/populist and/or most authoritarian at any given point.)

Let's hope this more of a success than the various other summits held at the chancellery, like the real estate summit ("Wohnungsgipfel"), that produced no results. Obviously production and late orders from the EU is what caused the delays in vaccine delivery and distribution, but that each state is setting up its own system is also not very helpful. I wish the federal government would manage most of the pandemic related decisions, including lockdown restrictions. The state by state stuff, what I would call "Kleinstaaterei" in German, has always been annoying and ineffective.

[CumbrianLefty]

It seems certain people in the EU are now busy questioning the AZ vaccine's effectiveness as a means of distracting from their monumental f*** up over Article 16 - I'm sure that can only end well

("these vaccines are rubbish, but its a DISGRACE we aren't getting loads more of them!")

[StateBoiler]

Great article from Tony Connelly of RTE on what the hell happened with the EU and Ireland last week.

https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2021/0202/1194551-article-16-vaccines-brexit/?force_isolation=true

The Article 16 clause was added last minute. No one knows who added it or who told them to do it. It was likely not Dombrovskis' fault. All the commissioners were given 30 minutes to read and approve. The Irish government did not find out until the press started calling them about it.

[President Johnson]

A study was published that Russian vaccine Sputnik V is actually safe and effective 91%, which is close to Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna and better than Astra Zeneca. The Russians seek permission for the vaccine in the EU and offered a purchase of 100 million dosis. While I was skeptical in the beginning, I'd actually take it if European and American medical experts determine it's safe and working.

Direct link to the study (according to German news sources, this medical paper is one of high reputation): https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00234-8/fulltext

[ilikeverin]

Yes, the Lancet is one of the best medical journals in the world, perhaps one of the top three. That's an incredible endorsement of the study, although it's not clear how much data the peer reviewers who approved the articles were able to see. I concur that we'd want the European/American medical panels to look at the data before we should trust it entirely, but it's certainly very promising.

[Mike88]

The German medical staff arrives today in Portugal to help in the fight against Covid, but there seems to be a controversy already. According to the media, the German staff will be sent to a private hospital in Lisbon, that is treating patients from public hospitals, rather than to public hospitals. Only private hospitals said they were willing to receive the German medical staff.

[jaichind]

https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/over-56-of-delhi-has-covid-19-antibodies-health-minister-satyendar-jain-on-5th-serosurvey-1765192-2021-02-02

New Delhi survey has 56% antibody positive.  It seems India is headed towards herd immunity.

[CumbrianLefty]

https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/over-56-of-delhi-has-covid-19-antibodies-health-minister-satyendar-jain-on-5th-serosurvey-1765192-2021-02-02
 It seems India is headed towards herd immunity

We've heard that plenty of times before about plenty of places, tbf.

[Middle-aged Europe]

How satisfactory is the coronavirus crisis management of federal and state governments?

Very satisfactory 5% (-5)
Satisfactory 41% (-6)
Less satisfactory 33% (+3)
Not at all satisfactory 21% (+9)





Satisfaction broken down for party supporters.

CDU/CSU: 74% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"
Greens: 52% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"
SPD: 52% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"
Left: 42% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"
FDP: 20% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"
AfD: 7% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"
No party: 42% "very satisfactory/satisfactory"

FEBRUARY UPDATE:




How satisfactory is the coronavirus crisis management of federal and state governments?

Very satisfactory 4% (-1)
Satisfactory 38% (-3)
Less satisfactory 34% (+1)
Not at all satisfactory 22% (+1)






Satisfaction broken down for party supporters.

CDU/CSU: 66% "very satisfactory/satisfactory" (-8)
Greens: 58% (+6)
SPD: 47% (-5)
Left: 35% (-7)
FDP: 10% (-10)
AfD: 4% (-3)






Current Corona measures are...

Going too far 22% (+5)
Appropriate 51% (-2)
Going not far enough 24% (-6)






How big are your worries...

...that the state of the economy worsens?
Very big/Big 73%
Less big/Small 27%

...with regards to new variants of the coronavirus?

Very big/Big 56%
Less big/Small 42%






How big are your worries...

...that you or your relatives get infected with the coronavirus?

Very big/Big 44%
Less big/Small 55%

...with regards to social isolation?

Very big/Big 44%
Less big/Small 55%






How big are your worries that the Corona measures are impairing childrens' development? (unlike all the other polling numbers this isn't compared to last month but to May 2020's numbers)

Very big 44% (+21)
Big 33% (-7)
Less big 12% (-11)
Small 8% (-2)






Speed of the vaccination campaign

Too slow 68% (+16)
Appropriate 21% (-15)
Too fast 7% (-1)

[Sir Mohamed]

Is there an explanation why cases and hospitalizations in Israel are still that high? The vaccination campaign has been going pretty well, but shouldn't that improve the situation?

[jaichind]

https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/over-56-of-delhi-has-covid-19-antibodies-health-minister-satyendar-jain-on-5th-serosurvey-1765192-2021-02-02
 It seems India is headed towards herd immunity

We've heard that plenty of times before about plenty of places, tbf.

Yes but the reported deaths in India has been dropping steadily since Sept 2020.  Note that given the medical infrastructure in India I would read reported death as reported death in Urban areas.  The general view is that the spread of the virus in India was heavy in early 2020 but then moved on to rural areas by mid 2020.  I am sure there will be a lot of excess death in rural India once the numbers come out.  The the steady fall of urban reported death without any lockdown and any social distancing measures or even any real mask mandates means that herd immunity in urban India is becoming a reality.  Just shows how bad of a decision the Spring 2020 lockdown was.  It did not stop the outbreak, destroyed the economy where they are now just recovering from when the whole time herd immunity was the only real strategy.  The collapse of the economy forced India to the correct path of herd immunity and now it is paying off.  I suspect in rural India we are in the middle of moving toward herd immunity.   

[Tender Branson]

Is there an explanation why cases and hospitalizations in Israel are still that high? The vaccination campaign has been going pretty well, but shouldn't that improve the situation?

So far, mostly old people over 50 have been vaccinated twice.

No children under 16 have been vaccinated yet and a lot of 16-50 year olds are missing as well.

The 1-50 year olds are the heaviest superspreaders, not the olds who are isolated.

[Mike88]

Portugal update: The number of new cases are starting to fall dramatically. Today, 6,916 new cases were reported. However, new deaths are still very high, 258 new deaths, and pressure on hospitals isn't decreasing: 904 cases in ICU's (+41). But, hospitalizations are decreasing, with today 6,412 patients hospitalized, minus 84 compared with yesterday.

Also, Austria is expected to receive 10 Portuguese patients, but a date is yet to be confirmed.