European coronavirus restrictions appear to be paying off, says WHO, as U.S. cases soar

[brooklynite]

Source: NBC News

LONDON — Coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Europe appear to be paying off, with a dip in new weekly cases, the World Health Organization said, offering a glimmer of hope ahead of Christmas, while cases soar in the United States.

Restrictions, from school and store closures to limited social interactions, have led to a slight decrease in new Covid-19 weekly cases from 2 million to 1.8 million over the last two weeks, the WHO said.

"It's a small signal, but it's a signal nevertheless," WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge said in a statement Thursday.

He said future lockdowns were "avoidable" if more people wore masks and used contact-tracing technology.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/european-coronavirus-restrictions-appear-be-paying-says-who-u-s-n1248339

[DFW]

1. There was a lot of pushback here in Germany

I hope the harsh measures bear fruit. I have a lot of things that need to be done in about 6 countries, and I don’t want to get hit with three six-day weeks in December.

[Hugin]

2. I wouldn't classify a 0.2 million decrease as slight...

It seems significant to me as these are PEOPLE we're talking about.

Anyway, I've not seen a real discussion of why the COVID spike is so much worse during the winter. Other than a few hand waves about people gathering indoors due to colder weather. They were gathering indoors during the summer, too. Looking for AC in the heat.

Is it because people are spending less time outside in the Sun, period? Maybe the virus survives longer in the environment due to the low light levels?

[GopherGal]

3. Low Indoor Relative Humidity is one theory

This article/opinion piece seems plausible to me.

This winter, fight covid-19 with humidity
[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/18/winter-covid-19-humidity/|]

And there is one more healthy building tool that we can use this winter: maintaining relative humidity in the 40-to-60-percent range.

Humidity can affect transmission in three ways. First, it influences our body’s ability to fight off infection.

Second, a new study shows that the coronavirus decays faster at close to 60 percent relative humidity than at other levels.

Third, dry air also influences how far droplets containing the virus can travel and how long they can stay in the air.

[Hugin]

4. Wonderful.

Thanks for plowing through this!

It's also supported by the fact the coastal regions of the US were the last to spike up.

Interesting.

Now we're getting somewhere!

[Javaman]

5. I'm going to invest in hand moisturizer futures. ;)

This is very good info. Thanks!

[GopherGal]

6. Might be too late

I bought a pump-top bottle of moisturizer to keep next to the hand sanitizer back in March to offset the drying effect of all the hand-washing and hand-sanitizing. I can't imagine I was the only one.

But do me a favor and don't go and start a rush on humidifiers until I make sure the one I'm pulling off my closet shelf still works.

[Javaman]

8. will do. I won't start the great humidifier panic of 2021 until you get yours sorted. :) LOL

Cheers!

[Thyla]

7. One death every 17 seconds in Europe

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/19/covid-who-one-death-17-seconds-europe-hans-kluge

Unacceptable.
The way Europe as a whole has handled this is disgraceful and in part from WHO guidelines on lockdowns.
Fuck them and their money.
I´ll be leaving the EU as soon as conviently possible which is not going to be soon.