Germany’s bleak warning: vaccinated, cured or dead

People in Germany will either be “vaccinated, cured or dead” by the end of the winter, thanks to the dramatic resurgence of coronavirus sweeping across the country, warned outgoing Health Minister Jens Spahn today. 

The health minister’s ominous message came as Germany reported more than 30,000 new infections – a 15th consecutive day of record numbers. 

Around 67% of Germans are vaccinated, although in some eastern regions where there is a more significant anti-vax movement and a general distrust of state policy, vaccinations rates drop to as low as 57%. 

Germany’s leaders have already voted in favour of banning the unvaccinated from restaurants, museums and other public venues. These are measures proposed by the three parties expected to form the next coalition: the Social Democrats (SPD), the Liberals and the Greens.

A number of leading politicians in the country wish to go further and are toying with the controversial policy of mandatory jabs. Germany’s tourism commissioner predicts that, sooner or later, compulsory Covid vaccination will be “unavoidable.” 

Germany’s tightening up of restrictions comes as Austria – the first country in Europe to announce a mandatory Covid vaccination policy starting in February – went into full national lockdown today. Those found breaching lockdown rules face fines of up to €1,450.

In Czech Republic, outgoing Czech health minister, Adam Vojtech, is also set to propose a new state of emergency later today, after the country broke a new record of over 23,000 new infections in a single day. The Netherlands has imposed a three-week partial lockdown, with bars and restaurants closing at 20:00, after a record spike in cases. 

In Russia, President Putin, who received his booster jab today, has urged individuals to come forward for their vaccines as the country recorded a record 1,254 covid deaths on Saturday. Only 37% of the country’s population of 146 million are thought to be fully inoculated. 

The latest restrictions imposed across the continent to curb this spread has triggered a fierce backlash. Violent protests broke out over the weekend in Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Austria. 

In Brussels, around 35,000 demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the WFH policy and mandatory mask wearing, reintroduced as hospital admissions reached their highest level since May. Protestors smashed cars and set garbage bins ablaze, while the police responded with tear gas. 

Riot police were also deployed in the Netherlands after another partial lockdown introduced last week triggered three night of unrest. Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, hit out at the rioters this afternoon, branding the unrest “pure violence” unleashed by “idiots”, and vowing to prosecute those responsible. Around 145 protesters have already been arrested. 

In contrast to Germany, the outlook in the UK appears more stable, despite another rise in new infections to 44,000 cases.

Sir John Bell, the Oxford University professor and AstraZeneca vaccine lead, believes we will avoid the surge engulfing Europe thanks to the high number of cases in Britain throughout the summer and early autumn. 

Indeed, Nadhim Zahawi, the former vaccines minister, claimed today that the UK was “absolutely right” to press ahead with July’s Freedom Day, allowing the virus to spread during the warmer months where there is less pressure on hospitals.

As for vaccine mandates for the general population, health secretary Sajid Javid said on Sunday: “I don’t think that is something we would ever look at.”

Speeding up the UK’s booster roll out should also help stave off another lockdown. More than 20 per cent of Brits have had their booster shots – almost double the level in Austria and three times that in Germany. 

For any Brits already fretting about another cancelled Christmas, Professor Bell has some advice: “Order that turkey, because it’ll all be fine.” The only caveat: “If you’re planning a skiing holiday in Austria, things may not go so well.”