Doctors give doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Germany, where health officials say the Delta variant is gaining ground. Reuters
Doctors give doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Germany, where health officials say the Delta variant is gaining ground. Reuters
Doctors give doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Germany, where health officials say the Delta variant is gaining ground. Reuters
Doctors give doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Germany, where health officials say the Delta variant is gaining ground. Reuters

Delta variant accounts for half of Germany's new coronavirus cases


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

The Delta variant now accounts for half of the new coronavirus infections in Germany, reports suggest, as the mutation spreads across Europe.

Public health chief Lothar Wieler said genome analysis showed that Delta infections made up 36 per cent of the total in the week ending June 20.

Given the proliferation of the variant, the share of Delta cases in Germany was likely to have reached 50 per cent in the last week of June, he was quoted as saying.

Mr Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch national public health institute, said the strain was likely to become dominant by the autumn.

Concern over Delta prompted the German government to push for tougher restrictions on travel from the UK and Portugal, where Delta is the dominant strain.

Germany's move to impose a 14-day quarantine on travellers from Portugal and ban most arrivals from the country led to a rebuke from the European Commission.

EU members agreed last month to pull an “emergency brake” on countries with variants of concern, but Brussels said states must co-ordinate their precautions.

“The German measures do not seem fully aligned with it,” said EC spokesman Christian Wigand.

“While we must stand ready to reintroduce public health measures if needed, including making use of the emergency brake, co-ordination remains essential.”

Rift over travel

Germany’s call for harmonised restrictions on Britain failed to convince tourism-reliant countries such as Portugal and Spain.

The rules laid down by Berlin mean that all travellers from the UK must quarantine for 14 days and cannot take tests to avoid or shorten the isolation period.

But UK holidaymakers can still visit Spanish islands such as Mallorca and Ibiza by showing a negative PCR test or proof of full vaccination.

The large crowds at Euro 2020 football matches, especially in England, are another cause of concern in Germany.

Politicians said they were alarmed by the 45,000 crowd in London's Wembley Stadium to watch the England v Germany match on Tuesday.

While Britain plans to raise the attendance to 60,000 for the final, or two-thirds of Wembley’s capacity, crowds in Germany are capped at 20 per cent.

“England were the deserved winners and Delta was also a winner,” German Green MP and former minister Renate Kuenast said after the game.

German politicians voiced concern over the crowds at Euro 2020 football games, seen here at Wembley on Tuesday.
German politicians voiced concern over the crowds at Euro 2020 football games, seen here at Wembley on Tuesday.

Studies showed that available vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness with the Delta variant but that two doses are essential.

Germany has given a first dose to 54 per cent of its population and 36 per cent is fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Jens Spahn celebrated on Wednesday after Germany’s share of partially-vaccinated people overtook that of the US.

Germany started slowly but is now giving about 500,000 vaccine shots per day.

“The US started quickly, but today Germany is level for the first time in first vaccinations,” Mr Spahn said.

“That shows that the vaccination campaign requires a long-term approach. We will keep the pace of vaccinations high.”

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

Schedule for Asia Cup

Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)

Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)

Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four

Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai) 

Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)

Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 28: Final (Dubai)

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Babumoshai Bandookbaaz

Director: Kushan Nandy

Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami

Three stars

SERIES SCHEDULE

First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6

'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars

Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

MIDWAY

Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: June 30, 2021, 10:44 AM`