In the corona pandemic, according to a report by the Oxfam aid organization, an increase in violence against women can be observed around the world. During the first lockdown in 2020, the number of calls to help hotlines “increased significantly” in ten countries examined, Oxfam Germany announced on Thursday in Berlin. Malaysia is the front runner with 111 percent more calls. There were 79 percent more calls in Colombia, 73 percent in Italy and 69 percent in South Africa. In Argentina and Great Britain, the hotlines recorded a quarter more calls.
In addition, many women’s rights organizations have less funding available, it said. Governments would have to provide more financial support for such organizations, demanded Oxfam. A “coordinated, comprehensive and cross-sectoral response” to the crisis is also needed so that victims of gender-based violence can be supported.
“The progress that has been made in empowering women over the past 30 years is in jeopardy,” said Oxfam Germany development policy expert Sandra Dworack. Millions of women and girls as well as people from the queer community experienced a “double pandemic” of violence and Covid-19.
Thursday is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. According to Oxfam, it kicks off the “16 days of activism against gender-based violence” days of action, which will end on Human Rights Day on December 10th. (25.11.2021)
WHO once again sees Europe as the epicenter of the pandemic
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe has once again become the epicenter of the corona pandemic. The reason for this is a “false sense of security” with regard to protection through vaccines, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference.
He pointed out that more than 60 percent of all new corona infections and deaths in Europe had been recorded in the past week. People in Europe would have the impression that they no longer need to take any further precautionary measures after vaccination. Vaccination, wearing a mask and distance are still important to stop the transmission of the virus.
According to WHO estimates, another 700,000 people in Europe could die of Covid 19 disease by March 2022. Based on the current trend, the number of corona deaths would then rise to a total of more than 2.2 million. So far, more than 1.5 million people infected with corona have died in Europe. Covid-19 is now the leading cause of death in the region, to which the WHO counts 53 countries, including Russia and Turkey. (24.11.2021)
Italy tightened measures for unvaccinated people and expanded compulsory vaccination
Italy tightened the corona measures for unvaccinated people. As of December 15, they will no longer be allowed to visit restaurants, cinemas, theaters, discos and sporting events, as the government in Rome has decided. In addition, the 3-G rule will apply to local and long-distance public transport from December 6th. These measures should initially remain in force until January 15th.
In addition, the cabinet expanded the compulsory vaccination for government employees to include all school staff, the police and the military. In addition, health care workers who are already required to be vaccinated must be boosted. (24.11.2021)
Ischgl: Public prosecutor’s office stops investigations
The Innsbruck public prosecutor has stopped the investigation into the spread of corona in Ischgl winter sports. The authorities said that no charges were being brought because there was no evidence that “someone culpably did or failed to do something,” which has increased the risk of infection.
In March 2020, Ischgl was also considered a hotspot for the spread of the virus because of its après-ski scene. The place and the entire Paznaun Valley were finally quarantined under sometimes chaotic circumstances. The investigations focused on five people in charge from several authorities. They were accused of reacting too late and insufficiently. An expert report that has already been presented saw no failure in office, but misjudgments by some of those responsible. Pressure from the tourism industry on decision-makers was not found. Numerous civil proceedings are pending before the Vienna Regional Court, in which, among other things, the relatives of German victims are suing for damages.
Meanwhile, Austria reports the second highest daily value for new corona infections since the beginning of the pandemic. After a significant decrease the day before, a particularly high number of new corona infections have now been recorded, namely 15 365 within 24 hours. The number of patients in the intensive care units remained stable within a day, but has roughly doubled since the beginning of the month. The seven-day incidence is around 1100. The infection rate is particularly strong among five- to 14-year-olds. In this group, the incidence is 2300. In view of this, it is being discussed whether the schools that have previously been open despite the lockdown should be closed. (24.11.2021)
New Zealand announces plans to open the border from the end of April 2022
New Zealand is keeping its borders closed to travelers from abroad for another five months. Fully vaccinated international travelers will be able to re-enter the country from April 30, 2022, says the minister responsible for combating corona, Chris Hipkins, at a press conference in Wellington. There is no quarantine requirement. The opening is to take place gradually: Vaccinated New Zealanders and people with permanent residence permits who are currently in Australia, according to Hipkins, will be allowed to return from January 16 – from other countries from February 13. (24.11.2021)
The Netherlands are moving corona patients to North Rhine-Westphalia
Under the pressure of increasing patient numbers, Dutch hospitals are again moving Covid 19 patients to clinics in North Rhine-Westphalia. The first ambulance left Rotterdam on Tuesday morning, said a spokeswoman for the national organization for the distribution of patients. The patient should be admitted to the Bergmannsheil University Hospital in Bochum.
The patient had been treated in the intensive care unit in a hospital in Rotterdam. Another patient transport should follow during the day, as the spokeswoman said.
In hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia there should be space for a total of 20 patients from the Netherlands. The patients are transported in specially equipped ambulances (Mobile Intensive Care Units) and accompanied by a doctor and a nurse.
Due to the rapidly increasing numbers of infections and patients, the hospitals in the Netherlands are totally overloaded. They are already warning of the state of emergency. In many cases, necessary operations have been postponed by cancer or heart patients because there is a lack of nursing staff. Covid patients were relocated to Germany during the first corona waves last year. The seven-day incidence in the Netherlands is now more than 880. (23.11.2021)