Heading off to a vacation hotspot in Europe this summer? Well, it might be best to keep your cool. In recent weeks, major tourist destinations across Europe have reported a significant rise in Covid cases.
The tastes of France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain all see a rise in Covid numbers, a reminder that while the worst of the pandemic is (hopefully) behind us, the dreaded virus is still around.
The increase in cases is fueled by the spread of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, which are more contagious than previous strains but, thanks to vaccination rates and people who have already caught other variants virus, are no longer likely to cause serious illness.
According to The Guardian, last weekend, Greece reported 11,700 new infections, about three times the figures recorded the previous weekend. Cases are mostly recorded in people between the ages of 18 and 24, and there has been a sharp rise in cases in popular tourist island destinations like Corfu and Zante.
Spain is seeing a similar rise in cases, with the islands of Majorca and Ibiza reporting a particularly high number of cases. Some parts of the country are so worried about the spread of the virus that people like the the Canary Islands and the Costa del Sol are apparently considering bringing back a mask mandate for indoor public spaces.
France, meanwhile, has seen an 80 per cent rise in cases over the past fortnight, and Italy hit a five-month high last week. This all sounds pretty bad, but it’s also worth putting into context. According to British governmentfor example, England alone has seen nearly 140,000 new positive cases in the past week.
So what can you do about all of this? Well, honestly, not much. You can make sure you’ve had a reminder, don’t travel if you’re sick and follow local rules and regulations – then just cross your fingers you don’t catch Covid before your holiday or while you’re there.
ICYMI: could travel restrictions be reinstated to curb the latest wave of Covid?
The plus: here 10 Ways to Make Sure You Avoid Vacation Hell This Summer.
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