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The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe is gaining momentum, and at the same time in the countries of the old continent we observe a disturbing trend – more and more infections affect the elderly, over 65 years of age.
- The disturbing trend is visible in many European countries – more and more seniors suffer from COVID-19. This is a change because young people have the highest number of new infections in summer
- The increase in infections among the elderly translates into hospitalizations and this in turn to a higher death rate, says Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser to the UK government.
- For more up-to-date information on the coronavirus, please visit the TvoiLokony home page
In summer, Europe was dominated by cases of infection among young people who did not shy away from bars, restaurants and socializing. This meant that the death rate from COVID-19 remained relatively low as adolescents are less susceptible to the virus and most infections are asymptomatic or mild.
Meanwhile, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has already warned that more and more seniors are now infected. According to the latest ECDC report, at least 13 European countries have seen an increase in the number of infections among people aged 65 and over to a high level. Last week it was the best in Croatia – 64 cases per 100, and the worst in the Netherlands 206 per 100.
In recent weeks, a sharp increase in infections among the elderly has been observed in almost all European countries. In Eastern Europe, this rate is more than twice as high as during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic – over 100 in the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia and Hungary. This is worrying because the elderly are hospitalized much more often and more likely to die.
The World Health Organization reports that almost 88 percent. of all deaths in Europe were from people over the age of 65 (end-August). In the Czech Republic, people aged 65+ accounted for 14 percent. of all infections and as much as 94 percent. deaths (from October 11 on a weekly basis). And when the coronavirus begins to spread to the elderly, hospitals can overflow quickly – such as in Italy or Spain in spring.
According to the latest data from the Department of Health and Human Services, the number of people over 60 in the UK testing positive for coronavirus compared to the beginning of September has quadrupled compared to the beginning of September. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy director of the UK Department of Health and Welfare, says that higher rates of infection, originally seen in young people, have recently started to show in older age groups.
The German Robert Koch Institute warns in its latest report that “the incidence of disease in older age groups is increasing” since the beginning of September. The French Public Health Agency reports that the number of new COVID-19 cases among people aged 65 and over has tripled in the past six weeks. Data from Spain show that the average age of people with newly diagnosed infection, which fell from 40 (late July) to 37 (late August), has recently risen again to 39.
When researchers at the CDC studied the course of the coronavirus outbreak in the southern US states in June, they found that the increase in the number of infections in the younger adult group preceded a similar increase in the elderly group by four to 15 days. In other words, as the epidemic spreads among adolescents, it spreads to older, more vulnerable people.
Dr Jennifer Cole of Royal Holloway says UK data show that the epidemic is not limited to adolescents and that a high percentage of infections are associated with multi-generation households.
Many European countries have taken a race against time to prevent overburdening health systems. And while there were earlier suggestions that the rest of society would be able to live a normal life if the elderly could be somehow isolated, most governments now realize that this is impossible.
In the face of a surge in viral transmission, Ireland announced a renewed six-week lockdown. The Czech Republic closed last week, and the local government introduced a general obligation to wear masks. Belgium, on the other hand, ordered a curfew from midnight to 6 am. The Spanish government declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region just two weeks ago, and earlier this week said it was considering introducing a curfew in other parts of the country. In Great Britain, Wales is closing on Friday.
- The editorial office recommends: “It’s worse than in March”. Countries are introducing draconian restrictions
In many major French cities, including Paris, Grenoble, Montpellier, Toulouse, Lille and Lyon, there is a curfew between 21pm and 6am. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new restrictions after his country saw a record increase in the number of positive coronavirus test results for the fifth consecutive day. The prime minister also gave the mayors of Italian cities the right to introduce a curfew after 21 p.m.
Public health experts say widespread restrictions are necessary to protect the elderly.
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– We have seen an increase in the number of infections. It started with adolescents in their 20s and has gradually spread to the elderly, said Patrick Vallance, Principal Scientific Adviser to the UK Government. – This translated into an increase in the number of hospitalizations, and with the increase in the number of hospitalizations … unfortunately, an increase in the percentage of deaths.
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