Covid is surging in Europe. What does it mean for the UK?
As the days get shorter and we huddle indoors, memories of 2020’s catastrophic winter are close at hand. Now a new surge of coronavirus cases is spreading across Europe. But as well as notes of caution, there are good reasons to hope that the UK will avoid the lows of last year – from lower hospitalisation rates to exciting treatments on the verge of approval. How optimistic should we be – and can we still go to Christmas parties?
“I am seeing the storm clouds gathering over parts of the European continent,” Boris Johnson said last week. “We have been here before and we remember what happens when a wave starts rolling in.”
The prime minister’s warning was full of foreboding for anybody who lived through last year’s winter – when a doggedly optimistic government refused to countenance imposing coronavirus restrictions over Christmas, only to be forced to reverse its position at the last minute. The move confirmed the seriousness of a long, grim second wave that proved even deadlier than the first – and fundamentally changed the way many of us thought about coronavirus, dispelling all hopes that we would soon be able to turn the page and go back to life as it was before.
A year on, Johnson is right: the situation in Europe is troubling. In Germany, cases are at their highest level since the start of the pandemic. In the Netherlands, curfews and orders that sporting fixtures be played in empty stadiums are back in place. In Croatia, the daily death rate is higher than it was a year ago. Last week, Reuters reported that the continent accounted for more than half of infections in the world, and about half of new deaths.
For the UK, that is ample reason for concern – but there are also reasons to be more optimistic. In this episode, the Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, talks to Nosheen Iqbal about that complicated picture. He explains why the situation might be different across the Channel, reflecting on factors from the early prevalence of the Delta variant in the UK to vaccination rates. And he looks ahead to the possible impact of antiviral treatments, which have the potential to make a significant dent in the damage caused by Covid-19. Finally, he answers the question on every listener’s lips: will he be going to Christmas parties?
The prime minister’s warning was full of foreboding for anybody who lived through last year’s winter – when a doggedly optimistic government refused to countenance imposing coronavirus restrictions over Christmas, only to be forced to reverse its position at the last minute. The move confirmed the seriousness of a long, grim second wave that proved even deadlier than the first – and fundamentally changed the way many of us thought about coronavirus, dispelling all hopes that we would soon be able to turn the page and go back to life as it was before.
A year on, Johnson is right: the situation in Europe is troubling. In Germany, cases are at their highest level since the start of the pandemic. In the Netherlands, curfews and orders that sporting fixtures be played in empty stadiums are back in place. In Croatia, the daily death rate is higher than it was a year ago. Last week, Reuters reported that the continent accounted for more than half of infections in the world, and about half of new deaths.
For the UK, that is ample reason for concern – but there are also reasons to be more optimistic. In this episode, the Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, talks to Nosheen Iqbal about that complicated picture. He explains why the situation might be different across the Channel, reflecting on factors from the early prevalence of the Delta variant in the UK to vaccination rates. And he looks ahead to the possible impact of antiviral treatments, which have the potential to make a significant dent in the damage caused by Covid-19. Finally, he answers the question on every listener’s lips: will he be going to Christmas parties?
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
