If the evolution of the coronavirus in Europe in recent weeks was already worrying, the detection of a
new South African variant
that keeps experts on alert due to its high transmissibility
is adding to concern
.
It is too early to understand its real impact, as well as to test to what extent current vaccines protect us against it.
But in any case, the impact that it is already having in the southern countries of Africa requires urgent measures such as the
suspension of
r part of the community block of flights with South Africa and Botswana
.
And even so, it seems impossible to completely avoid this variant, to the point that at least one case has already been confirmed in Belgium.
In such a globalized and interconnected world, it is impossible to fight a pandemic effectively while
developing countries barely have 5% of their citizens vaccinated
.
The European Stock Exchanges - with the Ibex 35 in Spain at the top - suffered significant falls yesterday due to the fears caused by the South African variant.
What is happening in most of our neighbors confirms that, together with health concerns,
Fears are growing about the blow that the new wave will cause in the economy at a particularly sensitive time
because, on the one hand, we are still in the bud of recovery and, on the other, it inevitably affects the Christmas season, which is so important for consumption and employment.
Thus, it is not surprising that almost all the governments of the continent are making far-reaching decisions.
In Portugal, with data very similar to those of Spain - both in the percentage of vaccinated and in infections - a new state of calamity has been decreed to try to contain the spread of the virus.
While,
Sánchez's Executive continues with his foot on the brake, in an attitude of inhibition
.
It is true that the situation in our country today is much more promising than in almost all of Europe, that hospital pressure is controlled and that the fact that 80% of citizens are already vaccinated and the high percentage of natural immunization help us. due to the virulence with which previous waves have affected us.
But, having said that, it constitutes an authentic irresponsibility of the Government that once again the adoption of decisions on issues such as the Covid passport is being unloaded in the courts of the different autonomies - with crazy disparity of criteria that generates citizen confusion - because, almost two years after,
Moncloa has not wanted to lift a finger for the approval of an appropriate national legal umbrella that gives the necessary tools to the Communities
.
The leader of the PP, Pablo Casado, yesterday demanded a pandemic law from Sánchez for the umpteenth time that would stop "the fragmentation of Spain" even for this matter.
In addition,
a serious debate on the mandatory nature of vaccination is missing
, at least among certain groups and professionals related to health, as is being done in many other countries.
A pandemic places us before unprecedented scenarios that require exceptional measures.
And today without general inoculation we cannot get out of this loop of desolation.
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