People dancing and partying to an entertainer during summer vacation holidays was believed to be one the reasons for recent surge in coronavirus infection cases across Europe leading to a second COVID-19 pandemic wave. Image credit: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

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How Europe got hit by second coronavirus pandemic wave

Daily and weekly cases rising across European countries – France, Spain, Italy, Romania, The Czech Republic, Netherlands, and others, and UK – ECDC

Gradual increase in Europe’s cases attributed to summer vacation activities; children’s return to school; relaxation of lockdown measures and collapsed UK test and trace system

Government authorities expected to impose new restriction and lockdown measures 

Europe has gotten hit by a second coronavirus wave, according to media report, and it is now in the middle of the pandemic as it moves into winter season after tamping down the first spread of the infection successfully.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) revealed that the daily infection case rate number in European Union and United Kingdom, which has the highest number of death in Europe with 40,000, reached a record high of more than 45,000 on a 14-day notification.

ECDC also disclosed that the death rates are increasing in Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta, Romania and Spain after stabilizing in the previous 10 weeks.

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Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of UK, said on Friday that UK. just like France, Spain and across Europe, is now experiencing a second wave inevitably. Matt Hancock, the British Health Minister, said that UK was at a tipping point following a new rise case two days ago having registered 4,422 new infection cases – the highest number since early May.

Italy recorded its highest tally since May on Friday with 1,907 daily cases; Poland recorded a record 1,002 daily cases on Saturday. France recorded 13,215 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours on Friday. The Czech Republic reported a record 3,130 daily infections Friday, and the Netherlands reported a record 1,977 cases.

Spain reported a record 12,183 daily cases on September 11, and has the highest number of cases in Europe at more than 600,000, with more than 30,000 deaths.

How it get that bad again?

How did it get hit again by the deadly infection is a big question? There are trends that explain the sudden rise in the infection rate being driven by young people:

Summer vacation season activities

The surge is returning just after the summer vacation season as workers return to city centers from the places where they spent their vacation. In late August, about 50% of new infections had been contracted during summer vacations in Italy, around the country and abroad, primarily among young adults who have not been cautious with social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines.

People were seen dancing and partying to an entertainer in Leicester Square, Central London, on September 12, days before social gatherings were restricted again. Weddings and parties which were integral parts of the traditions in Europe were held during the holidays.

“We are at this threshold today because of the movement around the holiday period and weddings which are integral parts of our traditions.”

Return of children to school

Just as the vacation season ended as workers return to city centers from holidays, thousands of children were allowed to return to school at the same time and in some without necessary precautions.

Collapsed test and trace system in UK

There is a widespread criticism of the UK’s collapsing test-and-trace system that even the PM admits has “huge problems.”

Relaxation of lockdown measures

In late August, Kluge said that the gradual increase in Europe’s cases could be partly explained by the relaxation of public health and social measures, where authorities have been easing some of the restrictions, giving the people room to be dropping their guard.

In several European countries, cases are rising particularly fast in densely populated cities, where people are returning to offices, schools and public places after measures eased following spring’s peak.

New restrictions are expected to be  imposed in places that were well into reopening as R Number has risen from 1 to 1.4. UK has taken the lead in Europe; others are expected to follow suit.

Leaders have raised fears over the pressure that hospitals could face in coming months and the looming prospect of new national lockdowns.

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