[Global Times reporter Ren Zhongqingmu Dongming] At present, the new crown pneumonia epidemic has rebounded in most parts of Europe and the United States.

According to a CNN report on the 12th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed countries and regions with more than 500 registered new coronary pneumonia cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days as the highest travel risk destinations. As of the 11th, most European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, etc., are still listed in this highest travel risk level.

Easter worries

　　According to a report by the German news agency on the 12th, the Robert Koch Institute reported that in the past 24 hours, there were more than 160,000 new cases of new coronary pneumonia in Germany.

The "Berlin Daily" said on the 12th that as the traditional second largest holiday in the West, Easter (April 17 this year) is approaching, and many countries have relaxed epidemic prevention measures, the epidemic in Europe may worsen again after the holiday.

　　France reported 25,492 new confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia on April 11, and the number of patients in intensive care units increased from last week.

French Minister of Health Verand said recently that France "has passed the peak of the rebound of the epidemic", but then the French Public Health Agency called for caution, saying that it is not yet possible to say that "the peak of the rebound of the epidemic has passed."

The French government has announced the opening of a second booster dose of the vaccine to people over the age of 60.

The "Tribune" commented: "France has already experienced the sixth wave of the epidemic. After a brief lull, the virus has begun to circulate again. Is the so-called decline in the number of infections just an illusion?"

The actual number of infected people in the United States is difficult to count

　　The US "Forbes" magazine said on the 11th that the number of daily reported cases in the United States has risen again, driven by the highly contagious Omicron BA.2 variant.

Canadian TV said on the 11th that given the easing of epidemic restrictions, the epidemic is also making a comeback in Canada, and the number of severely ill patients continues to increase.

The percentage of Americans who always wear a mask in public has dropped to 23%, the lowest level since April 2020, according to the latest University of Washington survey.

At the same time, the number of tests for the new coronavirus has also dropped significantly, making it more difficult for the government to grasp the true number of daily infections.

Omicron variant BA.2 cases now account for more than 72% of U.S. cases.

The University of Washington estimates the actual number of daily infections in the U.S. "may be nine times higher than reported."

Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University in Washington last week reinstated mandatory mask-wearing and nucleic acid testing requirements due to a rise in positive cases among students.

The federal mask mandate on air travel and public transportation, which has been in place since February 2021, will expire on April 18.

The White House epidemic coordinator said on the 11th that retaining the injunction was "absolutely under discussion."

　　Beware of "anti-epidemic fatigue"

　　WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the 11th that the number of reported deaths from new coronary pneumonia is now on a downward trend, "but the pandemic is still far from over", "Efforts to vaccinate 70% of the population of each country are still necessary to control the epidemic. It is very important." He said that as the new crown pneumonia epidemic entered its third year, three issues were particularly worthy of attention: First, be vigilant against "anti-epidemic fatigue".

Second, the duration of immunity after vaccination or infection with the virus remains unclear.

Third, "we cannot predict how the new coronavirus will evolve next."