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There are tentative signs the number of new cases may have peaked,with 146,390 new cases reported on Saturday,down from the record 218,724 recorded on January 4.
Britain’s cumulative death toll is the second-highest in absolute terms in Europe,behind only Russia’s.
But on a per-head basis,the United States,Italy,Belgium and several countries in Eastern Europe have higher cumulative death rates.
Britain’s death rate is 7 per cent higher than the European Union average,according to figures collated by Our World in Data.
Amid a seemingly unstoppable surge in infections,governments in Europe — unable to halt,or even slow,the spread of infections — are zeroing in on the unvaccinated as part of efforts to protect their health services from being swamped.
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While vaccines don’t completely stop transmission,research suggests they reduce the chance of severe symptoms from Omicron. That should mean less pressure on hospitals,and especially intensive care units.
France is toughening restrictions on those without inoculations,looking to put in place a vaccine pass to access bars and restaurants,or even to travel by train.
Neighbouring Italy on Wednesday made shots compulsory for people over 50,though the fine of €100 ($158) for non-compliance has been kept deliberately low.
In Austria,the unvaccinated are barred from most areas of life,including non-essential shopping,hotels and restaurants,although enforcement is spotty. The country also wants to make vaccines mandatory for everyone from next month,though implementation may be delayed.
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While Germany,Europe’s biggest economy,is already in what some officials have termed a “lockdown of the unvaccinated”,with limits on access to theatres and other leisure activities.
Data in the UK show a far higher hospitalisation rate among those who haven’t had a vaccine. While Johnson has said he favoured a voluntary approach to vaccinations,his frustration with anti-vaxxers boiled over this week.
“I want to say to the anti-vax campaigners,the people who are putting this mumbo jumbo on social media,they are completely wrong,” he said. Given the “tragedy” going on,“it’s time that I and government call them out on what they’re doing,” he said.