Due to the highly contagious sub-variants of Omikron, the number of cases and hospitalizations increased. While the cases survived the disease in the form of severe flu, the reason for the spread is the increase in activity with the holiday period.
The increase in COVID-19 cases from many countries, especially European countries, started to be followed by the Ministry of Health and scientists. It is stated that the transmission rate of cases connected to BA.4 and BA.5 type viruses, which are sub-variants of Omikron, is high. While these developments were taking place, it was learned that there has been an increase in the number of applicants to hospitals in the last month. According to the evaluations made by specialist doctors, the majority of those who applied for severe flu and colds, especially in hospitals in metropolitan cities, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. It was stated that some of these people had the disease like the flu without being tested, the only difference was that it was highly contagious.
EXTINGUISHED WAS EXPECTED
Experts have determined that the normal expectations are the ‘fading out’ of coronavirus cases towards the middle of the summer, but it has not reached this point and has an upward trend. However, it was stated that the developments are being followed and there is no situation to worry about yet. It is stated that the cases may increase slightly in small provinces due to travels to coastal cities and countries after the school holidays. Experts note that data such as whether the current vaccines will respond to the variant, which will become dominant in the autumn, will be important, such as the rate of transmission and the death rate.
MASK ROTATING
In the light of these studies, it is stated that vaccines such as the mixed vaccines produced for influenza will be produced every year, and a similar vaccination schedule may occur in the winter months, which may become routine for risk groups and the elderly. Scientists have stated that the antibodies of those who have had the disease and those who have been vaccinated have lost their protective feature. Depending on the developments, it is stated that the mask requirement may return, especially in closed spaces, in the fall.
LATEST SITUATION IN EUROPE
An increase in the number of COVID-19 cases was observed in the UK, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece and the Netherlands. Experts say that the reason for this is the new variants called BA.4 and BA.5, which are more contagious than the previous ones. As of June 18, 477 new cases per 100 thousand people were seen in France. In Germany, the number of cases seen in 100 thousand people in the last 7 days has exceeded 400.
VISUAL ARTS DOWN
The pandemic has also hit the performing arts, especially cinema and theatre. The following determinations came to the fore in the report prepared by the CHP by comparing the cinema and performing arts statistics of TÜİK:
“The number of cinema audiences decreased by 27.9 percent in 2021 compared to 2020 and reached 12 million 418 thousand 777 people. The number of movies shown increased by 2 percent in 2021 compared to 2020 and reached 26,483.
The number of theater spectators decreased by 84.1 percent in the 2020/2021 season and became 714 thousand 864. The number of plays played decreased by 73.3 percent compared to the previous season and was recorded as 1,665.
The number of opera and ballet spectators decreased by 94.5 percent in the 2020/2021 season compared to the previous season and decreased to 14 thousand 32.”
