The Covid infection curve is turning steeply upwards

HUNGARY - In Brief 27 Aug 2021 by Istvan Racz

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Daily new Covid infections in HungaryNote: 7-day averages between May 31 and August 27 of each year; Source: worldometers.infoThe foregoing chart speaks for itself. The local 4th wave of Covid is knocking at the door quite loudly: as of this morning, the 7-day average of daily new infections rose to 132, still a rather low figure but one having gone up exponentially in recent days. This is closely mimicking the events in the same period of last year, except that this time around the new infection number is 2.8 times higher on August 27. At the same time, daily Covid deaths are standing at only 2 cases, 0.9 times the corresponding number recorded last year. This three times difference in terms of the most negative consequences can be safely attributed to vaccination, of course. As of this morning again, close to 57% of the whole population is fully vaccinated.For sure, we had it coming. Experts have been warning for long, and the authorities have been aware for long as well. The latter's approach to the problem remotely resembles the current British official philosophy: no lockdown, no major restrictions, let vaccination do its job, and let the supposedly responsible citizens make their own responsible decision to get vaccinated if they have not done so already. Last week, all adult citizens who formerly registered for vaccination received a personal letter from the Prime Minister (yes, me too!), asking the addressees to look around and help the government convince everyone in their family or acquaintance who might not be vaccinated as yet. Health care workers are now obliged to take a Covid vaccine, children above the age of 12 can get vaccinated at school, and a third...