Because they do not want to be vaccinated against the corona virus, 54 Greek firefighters from the elite civil protection unit have been transferred to other departments. This was announced by the head of the firefighters’ union, Dimitris Stathopoulos, on the Greek news channel Skai. The elite Emak unit is deployed in the event of severe earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. In May, the fire department had already given all firefighters time until the end of June to get vaccinated. After the deadline, they have now drawn the consequences, it said.
In Greece there is no nationwide compulsory vaccination, but the pressure is growing: by decree last week, the government ordered that employees in hospitals and old people’s homes can be suspended from work if they do not get vaccinated. Then they wouldn’t get any money. In the meantime, there is also a compulsory vaccination in the military. (07/20/2021)
Participation limit at funerals in Austria is unconstitutional
The restriction on the number of participants at funerals imposed in Austria due to the Corona crisis was unconstitutional. This was stated by the Constitutional Court (VfGH) in a judgment published on Tuesday. Even if the relevant regulation pursued legitimate goals, the last farewell to the deceased was neither “repeatable nor substitutable” and represented a particularly serious encroachment on the right to private life. The complaint was filed by a woman who was unable to attend her aunt’s funeral because of the 50-person limit. The corresponding ordinance came into force at the end of 2020 and was valid for a few weeks. (07/20/2021)
Mallorca wants to tighten the rules again
In view of the sharply increasing corona numbers, stricter restrictions are expected to be imposed again on the popular holiday island of Mallorca. In order to combat parties and drinking bouts, especially young people, in the open air, beaches and parks are to be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the future. The judiciary has yet to approve the plans as the Mallorca Newspaper reported on Monday evening. Other media also reported on the plans.
Participants of such parties are threatened with a fine of 1000 euros in the future. If a party guest violates a quarantine requirement by participating, it should increase to 2000 euros. If the participant tested positive for Corona, even 5000 euros are due. The organizers of illegal parties face fines of up to 100,000 euros.
Restaurants will also have to close a little earlier in the future, at 1 a.m. instead of 2 a.m. A maximum of four people are allowed to sit at a table inside restaurants and eight outside. From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., according to the newspaper, only people who live in the same household are allowed to meet. Hotel or finca guests who have checked in together should be considered one household. After talks with entrepreneurs and unions such as the regional government, the regional government decided not to reintroduce the requirement to wear masks outdoors, which had been abolished just under a month ago Mallorca Newspaper reported.
The corona numbers have risen sharply in the Balearic Islands, which in addition to Mallorca also include the islands of Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, as in all of Spain. According to information from Monday evening, the seven-day incidence in the Balearic Islands climbed to 310, for the whole of Spain it was 323. In particular, many young people are currently infected with Sars-CoV-2. (07/19/2021)
World Doctors’ President warns against easing it too quickly
World Medical President Frank Ulrich Montgomery warns against opening too quickly in view of the renewed increase in the number of infections. “Now to simply drop the restrictions on our contacts and ‘open everything’ would be extremely dangerous,” said Montgomery to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “If you do that, you risk entering the fourth wave.” Even the smaller opening steps of the past few weeks would have increased the incidence values. The number of infected people is currently doubling every week.
Instead, Montgomery advocated a gradual and controlled approach. “Don’t open everything right away – as is planned in Great Britain – but gradually allow more contacts.” According to the head of the World Medical Association, distance rules and mask requirements should be maintained indoors and everywhere where minimum distances cannot be maintained.
It was hopeful news that the therapies had improved, intensive care units had more experience and vaccinated people would experience less severe courses, said Montgomery. “But let’s not forget how deceptive the infection numbers last summer came across and what destructive power the virus developed afterwards.” Montgomery appealed to the citizens to be careful of their own accord, even if more is allowed. “Anyone who wants to prevent another total lockdown, who wants to enable our children and adolescents to run a regular school, will voluntarily adhere to these rules – out of reason,” said Montgomery.
Study: how big is the corona risk for children?
Great Britain: Only vaccinated people should be allowed to dance in clubs
The British government wants to require mandatory corona vaccination certificates for nightclubs and other major events in England from autumn. “Some of the greatest pleasures and opportunities in life will increasingly depend on vaccinations,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in London on Monday. By the end of September, all adults in the UK would have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated against corona.
Until then, however, no such evidence is required for clubs and other major events that have been reopening or allowed to take place since Monday. Nightclubs are only encouraged to ask for the so-called NHS Covid Pass upon entry. According to the British government, around 35 percent of 18 to 30 year olds have not yet received a first vaccination, although they have already received an offer.
Johnson’s announcement came as a surprise because it wasn’t until this Monday that almost all mandatory corona protective measures fell in England – despite warnings from experts that the situation could get out of hand. Johnson’s government only makes corona policy for England – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for their own actions and are a little more cautious.
Because of the increasing number of cases, the US disease authority CDC has meanwhile issued the fourth and thus highest travel warning level for Great Britain. (07/19/2021)
Six-day lockdown imposed in Tehran
After an increase in deaths and infections related to the delta variant of the coronavirus, the Iranian government has imposed a six-day lockdown in the capital Tehran. “Tehran has been declared a Red Zone and therefore all authorities in the city will be closed from Tuesday to Sunday,” government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on state television on Monday.
According to media reports, the bazaar and shopping arcades will also remain closed during this period. It is still unclear whether the banks will also close or not.
The so-called delta variant had caused an increase in the corona numbers in the country in recent weeks. According to the Ministry of Health, there were recently up to 200 deaths and over 22,000 new infections per day. Since the pandemic began, Iran has recorded more than 87,000 deaths and over 3.5 million infections.
The country has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, partly because the economic crisis and US sanctions have made it much more difficult to import vaccines. The vaccination campaign for the more than 83 million people is making slow progress. So far, just over ten percent of Iranians have been vaccinated with mainly Russian and Chinese vaccines.
Olympia: Czech beach volleyball player also tested positive
Next corona case in the run-up to the Summer Olympics: Czech beach volleyball player Ondřej Perušič tested positive for Covid-19 in the Olympic Village in Tokyo, the Czech Olympic Committee (COV) announced on Monday.
Perušič submitted “a positive sample during the daily test in the Olympic Village on Sunday, July 18,” said Czech Olympic team boss Martin Doktor: “He has absolutely no symptoms. We take care of all the details and of course the anti -Corona measures within the team. “
On Saturday, the COV announced that an employee tested positive for the corona virus upon landing in Tokyo. On Sunday, the corona test of two other athletes was also positive. The Summer Games will open on Friday. (07/19/2021)