Europe is entering a new phase in the pandemic as a fresh wave of infection strikes countries that had initially reined in the virus.
In the last few days, France, Germany and Italy have experienced their highest daily case counts since the spring, and Spain is in the middle of a major outbreak. Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom have also seen a recent uptick in cases. The New York Times reported.
Some of the surge is being driven by young people. The proportion of people age 15 to 24 who are infected in Europe has risen from around 4.5 percent to 15 percent in the last five months, according to the World Health Organization.
According to New York Times, this time around, European leaders have not imposed strict lockdowns like those that curbed the virus in the spring, concerned that the public would not tolerate a return to draconian measures. Instead, leaders are relying on localized efforts, targeted restrictions on movement and increased mask requirements.
There are growing fears that the end of the summer vacation season will spread the virus, at the same time that people move their lives indoors and the fall flu season begins.
Newly detected infections per 100,000 people across Europe are still only about one-fifth the number in the United States over the last week, according to a New York Times database.
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Source: Vietnam Insider