Monday Morning News & Notes
COVID deaths rise in Europe. Push underway to get Ukraine into NATO.
🦠Pandemic🦠
🌍 🦠
The global COVID situation is a tale of two perspectives according to the latest assessment from the World Health Organization. In the 28-day period ending May 7, there were over 2.7 million new infections (-14%) and over 17,000 more lives were lost (-17%). Worldwide COVID hospitalizations are also decreasing. There were 109,546 new infection-related admissions (-29%) and 2,834 new intensive care cases (-4%) across the 46 countries reporting hospital data to the WHO. But the situation at the regional and individual country level is a little more complicated.
“Reported COVID cases are underestimates. This is partly due to the reductions in testing and delays in reporting in many countries.”
The United States remains a coronavirus hot spot registering the highest numbers of any nation on earth right across the board. But the situation in France is fast becoming a COVID concern as well.
The United States, again, reported the highest overall number of new COVID hospitalizations with 49,384 (-30%), followed by Ukraine with 13,380 (-22%), and France with 11,373 (+14%). Four countries registered major admissions increases. They are Mongolia (+875%), Afghanistan (+738%), Indonesia (+252%), and Singapore (+111%).
Of the 38 countries reporting intensive care admission data, France had the highest number of new ICU cases with 1,127 (+28%), followed by Ukraine with 391 (-13%), and Indonesia with 262 (+154%). Four other counties also reported significant increases in intensive care patients. They are Singapore (+96%), Sweden (+55%), Australia (+23%), and Latvia (+20%).
The number of pandemic deaths increased in three of the six global health regions. The Eastern Mediterranean (+1%), The Americas (+9%), and South-East Asia (+281%). At the individual country level, the USA, again, suffered the most COVID fatalities of any country with 4,680 more American lives lost (-36%). Brazil saw the 2nd highest loss of life with another 1,277 deaths (+2%), Russia followed with 955 deaths (-3%), then France with 944 more lives gone (+39%), and India with 715 lives gone (+289%).
Lastly, the most unreliable indicator due to a dire lack of testing, is the number of new infections. Cases rose in just two regions the Western Pacific (+35%) and South-East Asia (+223%). At the country level, The U.S. had the most new COVID cases with 366,173 (-35%), followed by South Korea with 363,691 (+32%), Japan with 262,145 (+36%), India where there were 213,014 new infections (+222%), and France where 173,375 new cases were confirmed (-19%).
On the variant front, the WHO says XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 are the two strains wrestling for global dominance. It adds that the number of countries reporting confirmed cases of one or both of the two variants of interest has increased. To date, XBB.1.5 is confirmed in 109 countries while XBB.1.16 is active in 46. XBB.1.5 is most active in Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Western Pacific. While XBB.1.16 is dominating South-East Asia. The WHO says XBB.1.5, while still dominant worldwide is steadily losing ground to XBB.1.16, which has seen its global case numbers double for two consecutive weeks.
🇪🇺🦠
COVID indicators in Europe largely remain low but coronavirus deaths have increased. According to the latest weekly pandemic assessment from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there were 681 more lives lost across the EU last week. That is 150 more deaths than the previous week. Two countries, Latvia and Portugal, reported increasing numbers of coronavirus deaths.
Of the 12 countries reporting hospital data, two reported more hospitalizations. Latvia registered increasing hospital admissions while Greece saw rising intensive care numbers.
The ECDC says rising infection numbers recorded recently in Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, and France appear to have reached or to be close to reaching their peak. Hungary and Ireland were the only two countries reporting increasing positivity percentage rates. The health agency adds that Spain seems to be seeing an increased spread of COVID infections.
There were just four countries testing and sequencing positive results in numbers high enough to derive any useful data on COVID variants. Based on that exceedingly narrow window XBB.1.5 remains dominant accounting for 62.7% of all sequenced positive tests.
Uptake for the second variant-specific booster dose remains much too low across Europe with just 35.5% of vulnerable seniors over 60 having a 4th dose. Among high-risk populations, 18 years old and older just 17.4% had a bivalent vaccine dose.
🇸🇪
The COVID pandemic has revealed weaknesses in Sweden’s infection control legislation and preparedness according to an editorial written by the head of the Swedish Public Health Agency.
Director General Karin Tegmark Wisell says in order to protect the Swedish population against the next pandemic five key weaknesses need to be addressed.
“Good and equal health in the entire population is crucial for a sustainable and resilient society, and for a robust civil defense.”
Number one, Wisell says the government to review the current infection control legislation and update it based on the lessons learned during the COVID pandemic. She says specifically it needs to allow for a more fluid response based on all available data on the severity of the infections and the current epidemiological situation.
The Director General is also arguing for a centralized infection control facility that is set up to respond to an outbreak and can rapidly adjust to any changing situation as required.
Wisell says accurate health data is key to informing any outbreak response. In Sweden, she says better collaboration on health data is a must. Data collection must also be done faster and be more detailed. It also must be more accessible and all pertinent legislation needs to be reviewed and updated.
The healthcare and seniors’ care systems must also be strengthened. Wisell says improvements are needed in ensuring there are emergency stocks of medicine and protective equipment for healthcare staff. Staffing shortfalls in senior care homes must also be addressed and in some cases “better organizational conditions are needed.” She says inequalities in the healthcare system must be addressed and remedied.
“The pandemic has highlighted how hard unequal conditions hit individuals and society. Health promotion and prevention efforts increase Sweden's resistance to pandemics and strengthen the health of the groups in the population that have the greatest risk of ill health. If inequality in health persists, the costs for individuals and society risk becoming very high even in the next crisis. In order to strengthen public health and achieve the Swedish government’s goals, additional efforts are needed from actors in many areas. A more favorable development means a lot to those who otherwise risk suffering from illness, and at the same time reduces costs for healthcare, rehabilitation, and lost production.”
🇫🇮
As experienced in many other countries, Finland is seeing a surge in invasive streptococcal infections called GAS and iGAS infections. The Finnish Institute for Health says it has recorded more streptococcal infections over the past winter than in any calendar year prior to the COVID pandemic. The institute says the surge in cases was particularly acute after the New Year, especially among children under the age of 10. But there have also been increases in cases among adults as well. It says while there has been a downward trend in recent weeks across most age groups, cases remain high among children five to nine years old.
Streptococcal infections can manifest as something as mild as strep throat or as deadly serious as a toxic blood infection.
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The COVID pandemic seems to have accelerated an ongoing change in the daily routine in Finland. According to Statistics Finland over the last decade, people have been going to bed and waking up, on average, later and later than they did in the 1970s. Once the pandemic struck things began to change even more quickly. With COVID restrictions keeping people at home, away from school, and work, Finns began to sleep more and tended to wake up even later during the work week. The agency also noted during the pandemic that the usual working week lunchtime mid-day anchor became a lot more fluid with more and more people eating outside the usual lunch window of 11 am to 1 pm. Finns also began to work longer into the evening and spent more time exercising and being outdoors.
🇺🇸 🦠
COVID vaccines aside the spotlight in efforts to fight the pandemic has long focused on masks, hand washing hygiene, and things like cleaning or disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. While ventilation is also mentioned clear health guidelines on how to ventilate indoor spaces to combat an airborne coronavirus have been missing in action, until now. The U.S. Center for Disease Prevention and Control has updated its guidelines and set a clear standard. It is now advising that a minimum target to prevent coronavirus spread is to change out the air in any indoor space at least five times an hour.
The CDC collaborated with the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers to craft the new regulations. The move comes days after the United States ended its COVID public health emergency.
The CDC recommends using MERV-13 air filters in an HVAC system to clean indoor air. Air purifiers using HEPA filters are also recommended especially for high-risk indoor spaces like schools and healthcare facilities.
⚡️Energy Crisis⚡️
🇩🇰
As a whole Denmark is leading the charge on the energy transition but a closer look reveals some significant challenges. Last year, wind and solar power covered more than 60% of Denmark’s electricity usage, the highest level ever recorded.
But disparities emerge when you look at how the Danish municipalities stack up. In a new report, Dansk Industry looked at solar and wind infrastructure and production across each municipality. While kommunes like Ringkøbing-Skjern, Holstebro, Aabenraa, Lolland, and Randers, are all doing really well others like Hørsholm, Frederiksberg, Albertslund, Dragør, and Vallensbæk were all way behind. For example, Ringkjøbing-Skjern is producing twice as much wind and solar electricity than all 10 municipalities on the island of Fyn combined.
Dansk Industri Climate Policy Head Anne Højer:
“In 2030, Denmark must run 100 percent on renewable energy. The municipalities play a key role in making it happen, so it is necessary to get all the municipalities involved. Of course, there are differences, and the municipalities have different local challenges. But there is a lot to learn from the municipalities that are doing well. We must find a good model for how we can all work together.”
🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺
Russia appears to be trying to get some level of retribution at its borders. Finnish news agency STT is reporting that Russian border guards have been increasingly blocking Finns from crossing into Russia for a variety of reasons. Since facing mounting European sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has stopped issuing multiple entry visas to EU citizens, with some exceptions. Due to the energy crisis spawned by the invasion of Ukraine, more and more Finns have been crossing into Russia to fill their vehicles with gas, which is a third of the price at the pumps in Finland.
🇫🇮🇪🇺
There is a good reason more and more Finns have been crossing into Russia for cheap gas, according to the latest EU fuel prices index, Finland has the most expensive gas prices in Europe. Finland is second only to Sweden when it comes to diesel.
Automotive Information Center Spokesperson Hanna Kalenoja spoke to Yle:
“It's somewhat surprising. Finland has been in the top three before, but usually not in the lead. Right now we have the highest level of gasoline taxation in all of Europe, and it contributes to the high fuel prices. During the energy crisis, many countries made changes to fuel taxes to improve consumers' purchasing power and reduce transportation costs. For example, in Sweden, the excise duty on fossil fuels was reduced.”
A liter of regular gas, at the time of the European Commission analysis, cost €1.94 in Finland, which is about $2.86 a liter in Canadian dollars.
🇺🇦/ 🇷🇺 War
🇵🇱 🇺🇦
“If Russia wins, it will not stop at the western border of Ukraine.”
There is a growing push to speed up the process for Ukraine to be admitted into NATO. In Poland, the country’s Senate unanimously adopted a resolution seeking to extend to Ukraine the expedited NATO admission process granted to Sweden and Finland.
The resolution in part notes that both Nordic countries were invited into NATO via an admissions procedure that had never been used before.
“The Senate of the Republic of Poland appeals to NATO member states to apply a similar emergency procedure to Ukraine. Ukraine’s accession to NATO should be a political decision, as in the case of Finland and Sweden, the result of a strategic analysis of challenges and threats outside the Alliance’s eastern border.”
The Senate resolution adds that in fending off the Russian invasion Ukraine is defending Europe itself and is a “key link that protects the continent against aggression from the East.”
It also notes that Ukraine has a strong army that is rapidly rearming itself with NATO military equipment and adopting Western fighting tactics despite not being a member of the alliance.
🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Ukraine has been waiting too long and has paid a high enough price. That is the argument being made by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in admitting Ukraine into the military alliance. Rasmussen says it was in 2008 that it was decided that Ukraine should become a member of NATO and since then it has been stuck in what he calls a waiting room that is neither safe nor secure. He says there is one thing the West has learned for sure and that is Russia does not dare attack NATO member countries while the waiting room Ukraine is in is a grey zone where Russia feels it can attack with impunity.
Rasmussen says the summer NATO summit in Lithuania is the perfect place to establish a firm roadmap for Ukraine to be admitted into the alliance. Speaking on a Danish news show he adds the ascension process requires giving Ukraine security guarantees.
“Doormen must be appointed to guard the waiting room so that the rockets cannot enter. Then it will take some time to find out the exact terms because in that case, it will be the first time that we occupy a country which may at that time still have part of its territory occupied by the Russians.”
NATO countries are protected by ‘Article 5’ a sort of ‘all for one and one for all’ clause stating that when any one member nation is attacked then all other member nations must come to its defense. So picking a fight with any one NATO country means picking a fight with all 31 alliance nations. Rasmussen says NATO could admit Ukraine but exclude Russian-occupied or contested areas at the time of admission from Article 5. It would then be gradually extended to formerly occupied areas as Ukrainian troops repatriate them. He says there is a NATO precedent for this when Germany was admitted in 1955 but Russian-occupied East Germany was excluded until Russian forces left and Germany was unified.
🇩🇰 🇬🇪
Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Lars løkke Rasmussen spent Sunday paying an official visit to Georgia. His visit included going to the Russian-controlled areas of the country. Rasmussen will officially open a Danish embassy on Monday (today).
“With the opening of the embassy, Denmark is sending a signal to Georgia that we fully support their independence. At the same time, we show that, from the Danish side, we want to help them with the right reforms so that they can fulfill their dreams of becoming an integrated part of the EU.”
The move is a not-so-thinly veiled message to neighbouring Russia. Georgia and Moldova, two countries Russia wants to pull back into Soviet influence are applying to join the European Union.
🇩🇪 🇺🇦
From a nation that dragged its heels in supporting Ukraine to giving the country a weapons package worth billions. That is the story of Germany after it revealed over the weekend it will send Ukraine €2.7 billion in military aid.
Germany’s Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius announced that the package includes 30 Leopard 1 tanks, 20 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and four IRIS-T-SLM air defense systems. According to German newsmagazine Der Spiegel, the package also includes 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, 200 reconnaissance drones, anti-aircraft ammunition, additional artillery ammunition and more than 200 armored combat and logistics vehicles.
Pistorius said in a statement:
“We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people but unfortunately this is not in sight. This is why Germany will supply all the help that it can, for as long as necessary.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a trip to Italy over the weekend, a trip that included an audience with the Pope. He followed that up by paying a visit to Germany. In Berlin, he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying together they can make “Russia's defeat in the war with Ukraine irreversible.” On Sunday, Zelenskyy continued his European tour in Paris.
🇨🇭 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
A significant roadblock to getting weapons and ammunition from Europe to Ukraine has been removed. The Switzerland parliament has amended legislation allowing for weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Until now, weapons and ammunition made by Swiss defense companies, even those purchased abroad, could not be transferred to any country engaged in a military conflict. To date, Switzerland has repeatedly vetoed requests from other countries to transfer Swiss-made armoured vehicles and ammunition to Ukraine. Switzerland’s change of heart will be a big help in the European Union’s effort to increase ammunition supplies to Ukraine while also shoring up domestic stockpiles.
🇺🇸 🇺🇦
Abrams tanks from the United States will soon be on their way to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the training program for Ukrainian troops on how to operate the more modern tank should be completed by this fall. Then the tanks will be delivered to Ukraine.
🇫🇮 🇸🇪 🇹🇷
The outcome of Sunday’s national elections in Turkey could be pivotal for whether Sweden will join NATO possibly as early as this summer, or not. Turkey has so far stonewalled Sweden’s NATO ascension. Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Pekka Haavisto is hoping that Sweden will join NATO before or during the alliance’s summer summit in Lithuania. But that would mean both Turkey and Hungary, the last two of NATO’s 31 member nations to yet hold a vote, would both have to ratify Sweden’s NATO application before July.
Haavisto spoke to Yle to say Sweden has fulfilled every criteria and done everything in its power to meet the requirements to join the military alliance.
“We may lose the momentum built up at the Vilnius summit. Everyone is working to ensure that maximum pressure is applied at that moment to get Sweden to join NATO.”
In its first official act after joining NATO, Finland immediately voted to ratify Sweden’s application.
But Sweden’s fate is tied to the outcome of Turkish elections on Sunday pitting long-time incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan against opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
“We do not yet know whether there will be turbulence or slowdowns in the internal situation in Turkey after the elections.”
As of this writing election results were still being tabulated with no candidate yet clearing the 50% threshold required to win. If the threshold isn’t reached by any candidate a run-off election will have to be held.
🇩🇰
Denmark’s Ministry of Defense was the target of a cyber attack on Friday. The attack managed to take down a number of the ministry’s websites. The denial of service attack (DDoS) also targeted the Center for Cyber Security and the Defense Intelligence Service. Denmark has been hit by an increasing number of online attacks in recent months. This is the second time since Russia invaded Ukraine that hackers have launched a cyber attack on the Ministry of Defense.
🇳🇴 🇺🇦
On Friday, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram visited Ukrainian troops undergoing training by Norwegian military instructors in Norway. Gram spoke with the Ukrainian soldiers and noted it was a sobering experience knowing these men would soon be headed back to the battlefield.
“The war feels even closer when we meet soldiers coming from the battlefield, who are training here and soon going back to war. It is a powerful reminder that freedom is not free.”
