By Michael Gore and Estelle Shirbon
MADRID/LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - As its vaccination drive
reaches a third of adults and COVID-19 infections ease, Europe
is starting to reopen cities and beaches, raising hopes that
this summer's holiday season can be saved before it is too late.
Exhilarated Spaniards chanting "freedom" danced in the
streets as a COVID-19 curfew ended in most of the country at the
weekend, while Greece reopened public beaches - with deckchairs
safely spaced.
With 200 million vaccine doses delivered, the European Union
is on track to achieve its goal of inoculating 70% of its adult
population by summer, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
tweeted on Sunday.
And, in Germany, a first weekend of summer sun lifted
spirits after Health Minister Jens Spahn declared the third wave
of the pandemic finally broken.
Yet, Spahn warned: "The mood is better than the reality."
The national seven-day incidence of COVID-19 cases remains
high at 119 per 100,000 people, he said. "That makes it all the
more important to keep up the speed of the vaccination
campaign."
Across the EU, the seven-day incidence of COVID-19 is 185,
according to Our World in Data. That is far higher than in
countries such as Israel with 6, Britain (31), or the United
States (123), all of which made quicker early progress in their
vaccination drives.
HEAD START
In Britain, early orders and approval of vaccines and a
decision to give first doses to as many people as possible have
driven down infections and fatalities far more quickly.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to set out the
next phase of lockdown easing in England, giving the green light
to "cautious hugging" and allowing pubs to serve customers pints
inside after months of strict measures.
"The data reflects what we already knew - we are not going
to let this virus beat us," Johnson said ahead of an official
announcement later on Monday.
Vaccine deliveries were slower initially in the EU under its
centralised procurement strategy.
Now, with shots from BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna relatively
plentiful, vaccinations as a share of the population in Europe
are growing while countries that made early advances see
slowdowns as they encounter hesitancy among the unvaccinated.
Some 31.6% of adults in 30 European countries have received
a first dose and 12% a full two-shot regime, the European Centre
for Disease Prevention and Control's COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab
showed.
France expects to give 20 million first injections by
mid-May, and hit 30 million by mid-June.
With infection rates falling and occupancy in hospital
intensive care units declining, France plans to start relaxing
its curfew and allow cafes, bars and restaurants to offer
outdoor service from May 19.
PICKING AND CHOOSING
Improving supply has given countries greater freedom to
adapt their strategies following reports of very rare, but
sometimes fatal, blood clotting in people who received shots
from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
Germany has decided to make the two vaccines available to
anyone who wants them, as long as they have been advised by a
doctor - an offer aimed at younger adults who would have to wait
their turn otherwise.
Norway's vaccine commission made a similar call on Monday,
saying the AstraZeneca and J&J shots should be made available to
volunteers. Some Italian regions are also offering both shots to
people under 60.
With some governments shortening the gaps between doses, and
plans for an EU digital "green pass" scheme in June for
travellers to provide proof of vaccination or immunity, people
cooped up for months are finally daring to make holiday plans.
"We're pinning our hopes on tourism," said Nikos Venieris,
who manages a beach in Alimos, an Athens suburb.
Tourism accounts for about a fifth of Greece's economy and
jobs, and the country can ill afford another lost summer. Greece
is lifting restrictions on vaccinated foreigners from May 15.
(Writing by Douglas Busvine
Additional reporting by Jordi Rubio, Terje Solsvik, Gwladys
Fouche, Matthias Blamont, Emilio Parodi, John Miller, Alan
Charlish and Phoebe Fronista
Editing by Giles Elgood)
Astrazeneca (AZN)
