Europe in vaccination race against COVID-19’s delta variant
LISBON, Portugal (AP) Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations and outpace the spread of the more infectious delta variant, in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives.
The urgency coincides with Europe’s summer holidays, with fair weather bringing more social gatherings and governments reluctant to clamp down on them. Social distancing is being neglected, especially among the young, and some countries are scrapping the requirement to wear masks outdoors.
Incentives for people to get shots include free groceries, travel and entertainment vouchers, and prize drawings. The president of Cyprus even appealed to a sense of patriotism.
2021/07/04 03:16 FILE - In this June 29, 2021, file photo, people ride the escalator in the subway amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in St. Petersburg, Russia. Countr. FILE - In this June 29, 2021, file photo, people ride the escalator in the subway amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in St. Petersburg, Russia. Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations to outpace the spread of the delta variant in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives. Daily new case numbers are already climbing sharply in countries like the United Kingdom, Portugal and Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)
In this June 5, 2021, file photo, people wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus, walk along a commercial street in downtown Madrid, Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
LISBON, Portugal (AP) Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations and outpace the spread of the more infectious delta variant, in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives.
The urgency coincides with Europe’s summer holidays, with fair weather bringing more social gatherings and governments reluctant to clamp down on them. Social distancing is being neglected, especially among the young, and some countries are scrapping the requirement to wear masks outdoors.
Nation/World News
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Europe in vaccination race against COVID-19 s delta variant
In this June 17, 2021, file photo, people take a selfie with the Arc de Triomphe in the background at the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris. Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations to outpace the spread of the delta variant in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
International News
Europe in vaccination race against delta variant
LISBON, Portugal (AP) Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations and outpace the spread of the more infectious delta variant, in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives.
Jul. 3 2021 @ 11:55pm
FILE - In this June 5, 2021, file photo, people wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus, walk along a commercial street in downtown Madrid, Spain. Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations to outpace the spread of the delta variant in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)