Europe offers stricter mask orders

Original title: stricter mask order in Europe

On 16 January, an Italian child received the new crown vaccine
Wearing a mask or not? Since the covid-19 outbreak, it has been a problem for some European people. However, after several repeated outbreaks, Europe has to offer stricter mask orders in the face of the rapidly spreading mutant virus Omicron strain.
European countries re tighten prevention and control measures
Italy's recent situation in COVID-19 is very tense. The newly diagnosed cases on a single day have exceeded 220 thousand cases. As of January 16, Italy had diagnosed more than 8.7 million cases and died more than 140000 cases.
Before Christmas last year, the Italian government announced the implementation of a mandatory mask order, requiring people to wear masks outdoors and FFP2 standard masks when entering cinemas, gymnasiums, public transport and other indoor places.
The Ministry of health of the Italian government has reached an agreement with Italy's major drug manufacturers' alliance to implement an official unified selling price of no more than 0.75 euros when selling FFP2 masks in pharmacies.
However, according to the Italian "Republic" reported that in some small cities and airport pharmacies in Italy, the price of FFP2 masks is as high as 1.8 to 2 euros each. Some pharmacies only comply with the official selling price when selling in large quantities. In an interview with the media, the person in charge of a drugstore said that the recent surge in customer demand for masks has also increased the purchase cost of drugstores.
In other parts of Europe, the epidemic spread caused by the accelerated spread of Omicron virus strain is also continuing. In the face of the surging epidemic, many governments have tightened prevention and control measures again. Spain, Portugal, Greece, France and Austria have all implemented stricter mask orders in some regions or across the country, hoping to use this effective means to reduce the impact of the epidemic on social and economic life in addition to the new crown vaccination.
"Returning to work with illness" of medical staff of American infectious disease
US media revealed on the 16 day that since the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut down the quarantine period for the diagnosis of infected medical personnel last month, the number of patients infected with COVID-19 in hospital has increased significantly in a short time.
The CDC issued a new guideline on epidemic prevention on December 23 last year, suggesting that medical staff can return to work after 7 days of isolation if they have no symptoms or mild symptoms and continue to improve after diagnosis, and provide a new negative test certificate within 48 hours after returning to work; If the hospital is short of manpower, the isolation time can even be shortened to 5 days, and there is no need to be tested after returning to work.
According to data from the US Department of health and public service, 16 days after the CDC issued the new guidelines, the number of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection increased by 80% from 1200 to 2200 after two weeks of hospitalization in the United States.
After the Rhode Island health department updated its medical staff isolation regulations on December 31 last year according to the new guidelines of the CDC, the number of patients infected with the new crown during hospitalization also soared.
George Caballero, a researcher at the NGO "new champion pioneer", said that many patients were originally hospitalized for other diseases, but were found to be positive when they were hospitalized. "The only place where they could infect COVID-19 is the hospital."
New crown cases surge in Japan's capital circle
Japanese media reported on the 17th that the number of new crown cases in Tokyo and its surrounding three counties has increased sharply, and the government may announce a quasi emergency in these areas.
Tokyo reported on the 16th that there were more than 4000 new confirmed cases in a single day, and the utilization rate of hospital beds for patients with new crowns reached 19.3%. According to Kyodo news agency, once the utilization rate of hospital beds reaches 20%, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will ask the central government to declare a quasi emergency in Tokyo.
The number of newly infected people in Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa counties around Tokyo has also increased recently.
Chief Cabinet Secretary hiroichi Matsuno said at a regular press conference on the 17th that new confirmed cases "are rising at an unprecedented rate" in big cities and other regions. The central government will soon consider declaring a quasi state of emergency at the request of local governments.
According to Reuters, about 6900 hospital beds have been allocated in Tokyo for the treatment of new crown patients. With the surrounding three counties, a total of 12 beds have been allocated in the whole capital circle8000 new crown beds.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a meeting of the ruling party on the 17th that if the existing epidemic prevention measures can not curb the spread of the virus, the government "needs to restrict people's activities".
South Korea adjusts new crown epidemic prevention policy
Responding to changes in the situation of COVID-19 and the upcoming Spring Festival holidays, South Korea has recently adjusted the epidemic prevention policy to private gatherings, extracurricular cram schools and home visits.
According to the latest epidemic prevention policy, South Korea has raised the maximum number of private parties from the previous four to six since the 17th. However, restaurants, cafes, gyms, saunas and entertainment places with high risk of epidemic transmission still need to close at 9 o'clock every night. The relevant provisions are tentatively implemented until February 6 this year, including the Spring Festival holiday from January 31 to February 2.
However, the latest epidemic prevention policy still maintains the restriction on gathering activities, that is, if there are non vaccinated participants, the total number of participants shall not exceed 49; If the whole process of vaccination is completed, the maximum number is 299.
The Central Daily reported that in order to meet the people's desire to return home to visit their relatives during the Spring Festival holiday, the South Korean government will implement special epidemic prevention measures from January 20 to February 2, including that train passengers must take their temperature before boarding and sit in the carriage with only a reliable window; Add temporary new crown detection points in 9 Expressway rest areas; People are not allowed to eat in the rest area of the expressway from January 29 to February 2. In the coming weeks, the disease control department of South Korea will also adjust the relevant provisions on maintaining social distance.
Austria plans to implement "compulsory vaccination"
In response to COVID-19, the Austria government announced a draft law on the 16 day. A new crown vaccine will be imposed on residents aged 18 and above from next month. Violators will be fined 600 euros to 3600 euros.
According to the German news agency, the Austrian National Assembly will vote on the draft on the 20th. Since the people's party and the green party jointly form a cabinet occupy the majority of seats in the national assembly, and only the Austrian Liberal Party among the opposition parties explicitly opposes compulsory vaccination, the draft is more likely to be passed in the national assembly.
Once adopted by the national assembly, the relevant provisions will be implemented in phases from February. Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang mikstein said the government would first publicize the new regulations to the public. Pregnant women, those who are not suitable for vaccination for medical reasons and those who have recovered from infection with new crown in the past six months are not included in the scope of compulsory vaccination. Since mid March, the Austrian police will carry out routine inspections at traffic stations and other places. People who fail to vaccinate within the specified time will face fines.
According to the draft, violators can be fined up to four times a year, and imprisonment can not replace the fine, the Associated Press quoted Karolina etstadler, Minister of the Austrian prime minister's office, as saying.
The draft will raise the lower age limit for compulsory vaccination from the previous 14 to 18.
Wen bingtu / Xinhua News Agency