Gibraltar, the most vaccinated place on Earth sees ‘exponential’ rise in Covid cases
Christmas plans have been put on ice for this place after a “drastic” Covid surge, despite its unbelievable 118 per cent vaccination rate.
The tiny territory of Gibraltar has announced a raft of new health updates following a “drastic rise” in Covid-19 cases.
The British-owned peninsula, often referred to as “the most vaccinated place on Earth” for having inoculated the entirety of its adult population, has seen case numbers steadily rise throughout the months of October and November.
Health officials governing the 34,000-strong population believe the sudden re-emergence of the virus to be cause for concern after 124 new cases appeared over the weekend. Gibraltar has seen an average of 56 cases per day over the last seven days, compared to under 10 per day in September.
The number of active cases sits at 474 - roughly 1.3 per cent of the population - as of November 17th. The recent spike is the biggest surge the tiny populous has seen since January 2021.
Gibraltar’s vaccination rate is currently at a peculiar 118 per cent, taking into account the fully vaccinated Spaniards who travel across its border each day for work.
Despite ongoing reassurance from world governments, the widespread vaccination of populations has unfortunately failed to ease rising case numbers for some densely populated nations.
“The drastic increase in the numbers of people testing positive for COVID-19 in recent days is a stark reminder that the virus is still very prevalent in our community and that it is the responsibility of us all to take every reasonable precaution to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” Health Minister Samantha Sacramento said.
Civilians have been told to “take note of those who remain in close proximity to you” and to “be ready to provide this information if asked by the Contact Tracing Bureau”.
Gibraltar was lauded in March 2021 for becoming the first recognised nation to vaccinate the entirety of its eligible population. However, with a sizeable portion of the population having their second dose months ago, the government is now facing the unfortunate issue of waning immunity.
Data from Pfizer and BioNTech has revealed their Covid-19 jab’s effectiveness weakens after around five months.
An October study published in The Lancet found that while the Pfizer mRNA vaccine was 88 per cent effective at preventing infection during the first month after a second dose, it was only 47 per cent effective at preventing infection 150 days later.
The tiny territory of Gibraltar has announced a raft of new health updates following a “drastic rise” in Covid-19 cases.
The British-owned peninsula, often referred to as “the most vaccinated place on Earth” for having inoculated the entirety of its adult population, has seen case numbers steadily rise throughout the months of October and November.
Health officials governing the 34,000-strong population believe the sudden re-emergence of the virus to be cause for concern after 124 new cases appeared over the weekend. Gibraltar has seen an average of 56 cases per day over the last seven days, compared to under 10 per day in September.
The number of active cases sits at 474 - roughly 1.3 per cent of the population - as of November 17th. The recent spike is the biggest surge the tiny populous has seen since January 2021.
Gibraltar’s vaccination rate is currently at a peculiar 118 per cent, taking into account the fully vaccinated Spaniards who travel across its border each day for work.
Despite ongoing reassurance from world governments, the widespread vaccination of populations has unfortunately failed to ease rising case numbers for some densely populated nations.
The recent spike has put Christmas plans in the firing line for Gibraltar, which has been forced to reintroduce mandatory mask laws for indoor spaces and public transport.
Gibraltar’s government has recommended civilians cancel plans going into the holiday break as the “exponential rise in cases” takes hold.
“The government intends to cancel a number of its functions including official Christmas parties, official receptions and similar gatherings,” the official release read.
“We strongly advise against any large informal social events, parties or receptions being held over at least the next four weeks.”
Civilians have been told to “take note of those who remain in close proximity to you” and to “be ready to provide this information if asked by the Contact Tracing Bureau”.
More here…
https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/global/most-vaccinated-place-on-earth-told-to-cancel-holiday-plans-amid-exponential-rise-in-covid-cases/news-story/1954572a25f48e39b7825e562129b9bc