Uncontrolled Delta seems stronger than partial vaccination

HUNGARY - In Brief 28 Oct 2021 by Istvan Racz

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At least according to the recent Covid data of Hungary. The latter shows that the ongoing 4th wave is running up pretty much in tandem with the 2nd wave of the same season of last year. Currently, daily new infections (7-day average, reported this morning) are at 115% of the same date of 2020, and rising steeply, with R0 at close to 1.4, according to one expert talking publicly:Sources: 444.hu, koronavirus.gov.hu True, consequences seem to be milder than last year, but only moderately: Covid deaths are at 70%, hospitalisations at 62%, patients in serious condition at 78% of the same date of 2020. And the trends are quite the same frightening, as shown by the hospitalisations curve (daily number of people in hospital with Covid, as reported this morning):Sources: 444.hu, koronavirus.gov.huClearly, prospects are not that good on this basis. Two days ago, a group of thirteen experts, including leading ones, asked the government to introduce safety measures to tame the 4th wave. In response to that call and mainly to the basic situation, the government cabinet decided that from November 1, wearing face masks will be compulsory again on public transportation (not elsewhere, except for health care institutions, as currently), employers will have the right to require Covid vaccination from employees if justified for the protection of other employees, and visiting hospitalised patients will be temporarily prohibited.These measures represent a significant move away from the ultra-liberal approach the government has been following so far, but an absolute must if the virus is to be contained. The reintroduction of the use of vaccination cards still missing in our view, but there ...