What happened to those countries after “doing nothing “?

“Outbreaks are expected to continue everywhere, especially in areas where transmission prevention measures have been lifted.” So warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in mid-March. However, as the Novel Coronavirus and its reengineered variant strain of coronavirus wreaked havoc around the world, some countries, including the UK, the US and Germany, have chosen to gradually relax their quarantine measures. Coexisting with COVID-19, how is the situation in these countries now?

British

One in 13 people are diagnosed

Since the UK government announced its “Living with COVID-19” plan in February, those who test positive for COVID-19 do not need to self-isolate and close contacts are no longer tracked, but this has been accompanied by high numbers of cases.

Around one in 13 people in the UK are diagnosed, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The results, published on the 6 April, also show that the omicron BA.2 strain is spreading rapidly across England, leading to a spike in infection rates among over-55s since March that is 20 times higher than the previous average. Older people are at higher risk of severe illness or death, experts have warned, as Britain faces a new wave of hospital admissions and deaths.

The United States:

The number of new cases in the US has dropped sharply to around 40,000, compared with more than a million confirmed daily cases in early 2022. But worryingly, with the spread of the Omicron BA.2 strain, the incidence of COVID-19 in the United States is rising again. According to the latest CDC statistics, ba.2 cases accounted for about 72% of new CORONAVIRUS cases in the U.S. in the week ending April 2, including 84% in states like New York and New Jersey.

As Washington, Reuters said, phasing out prevention measures, due to the outbreak of defunct Gerry h.s. Dillon club dinner also in silence again two years later, many officials, so will be coronavirus hall “power” in the United States once again spread – the beauty of a dinner party in the justice minister, minister of commerce, the house of representatives intelligence committee chairman of political figures such as “scam”.

Japan and South Korea:

After the relaxation of quarantine measures, the epidemic continued to rebound

The coronavirus outbreak in Japan has been on the rebound, with 44 of the country’s 47 prefectures and prefectures reporting an increase in new infections in the latest week. Japanese experts believe a seventh wave of the disease has begun, which may be linked to the relaxation of quarantine restrictions and the spread of the omicron BA.2 strain. As Japan lifted key quarantine measures in 18 prefectures including Tokyo on March 22, shopping malls saw an increase in traffic.

The COVID-19 risk in South Korea has remained at its highest level for five consecutive weeks. In particular, since March, the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 300,000 for several days in a row. Despite the grim situation, the ROK government chose to ease some restrictions starting March 5. Since April 4, the limit for private gatherings has been relaxed to 10 people. Meanwhile, depending on the situation of the epidemic in the next two weeks, restrictions on party attendance and business hours will be lifted.

Germany:

Farewell mask to the unknown

The Netherlands, France, Germany and other countries have also announced further liberalization of quarantine measures. In Germany, masks are no longer required to go to most shops, and restaurants no longer require proof of vaccination or negative test results. The German Health Ministry had also announced that the mandatory 10-day quarantine policy for positive cases would be lifted from May 1, but it would still recommend voluntary quarantine for five days.

However, According to Deutsche Welle, Germany is heading into the unknown after saying goodbye to masks. Because the number of infections in Germany is still high — more than 22.47 million cases so far, more than a quarter of the population; More than 130,000 others have died, with a slight increase in recent days.

For this reason, German Health Minister Hans Lauterbach said it should not be decided to abolish the mandatory quarantine policy for positive cases. He stressed that “COVID-19 is not a cold”, so people must continue to be quarantined after infection, and that quarantines are arranged and controlled by health authorities.

WHO:

Mortality rates in some countries

The highest level since the start of the pandemic

According to the latest statistics from Johns Hopkins University, as of April 8, Beijing time, more than 490 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus and more than 6.17 million people have died. Who Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also noted that outbreaks are expected to continue around the world, especially in areas where transmission prevention measures have been lifted.

Death rates in some countries have reached their highest levels since the pandemic began, Tedros said. This reflects the rapid spread of the omicron strain and the higher risk of death among people who are not vaccinated, especially the elderly.

He stressed that equitable access to vaccines remains the world’s most powerful life-saving tool. Priority must be given to health workers, the elderly and other high-risk groups.