That was on the bbc yesterday. You can see how cases were high in the UK since July, but are now dramatically increasing in Europe.
Parts of Europe.
The places where cases seem to be increasing most rapidly are places which seem to have hit a vaccination ceiling, much like the UK has. Only 64.5% of Austrians are fully vaccinated. Likewise only 67.5% of Germans. Vaccine hesitancy seems to have a strong cultural pull in these German speaking regions.
However mask wearing also seems to be another common factor. The Netherlands, another place with a slightly higher vaccination ceiling (72.1%) is also experiencing a big surge in cases. But the Netherlands, much like the UK, has not been enforcing mask wearing.
On the other hand, here in Spain (79.2% fully vaccinated) and other Southern European countries (Portugal 86.4% and Italy 73.7%), we not only have higher vaccination ceilings, but mask wearing is enforced religiously. As Craig said, mask wearing in shops and public transport is more or less 100% - and is not questioned (meaning security guards aren´t getting a load of abuse for telling people to wear them). In bars and restaurants the vast majority are also wearing them when, for example, getting up to go to the toilet. In fact even on the streets a lot of people are wearing them (probably OTT mind you).
Yet with te exception of masks, life here has been basically normal for months now, up and to and including nightclubs being open. Almost as if being vaccinated and wearing a mask in crowded and indoor spaces is really effective at keeping the rates low.
