COVID-19 lockdowns continue globally as vaccine efforts stumble

While vaccines continue to be administered worldwide, a number of countries are beginning to see new spikes in coronavirus infections. This is leading to many governments re-introducing lockdown restrictions.

India and Argentina are just two of the countries which have re-introduced curfews and lockdown regulation. This in an attempt to stem the rise in COVID-19 cases.

India has been drawn a lot of criticism for its draconian handling of the COVID-19 and specifically the human and economic toll its lockdown has cost its people.

COVID-19 vaccine efforts around the globe

Rise in COVID-19 cases in India

It’s estimated that as of today, India has vaccinated in excess of 94 million people. However, this is still a drop in the bucket for a country with a population of 1.3 billion people.

While many local residents are dreading another lockdown, there’s a growing feeling that it is unavoidable until the country’s citizens begin to take COVID-19 and the precautions they need to take seriously.

“I’m not for the lockdown at all, but I don’t think the government has any other choice,” media professional Neha Tyagi, 27, told AFP in Maharashtra’s megacity Mumbai.

“This lockdown could have been totally avoided if people would take the virus seriously.”

To make matters worse, it seems that vaccine availability will become an issue in the coming weeks. According to reports, India’s states only had an average of 5 days of vaccine stock available; some states already having to deal with shortages.

Rise in COVID-19 cases in South America

Similar situations are playing out in South America, with the capital of Colombia, Bogota, beginning a night-time curfew for its 8 million residents.

Colombia and Argentina, which is also re-introducing lockdown regulations, have been the hardest-hit countries in South America, with only Brazil recording more cases.

Even though Brazil is currently reporting record COVID-19 related deaths, the decision was taken to reopen restaurants and bars. The government handling of the pandemic has prompted the Brazilian parliament to call for an enquiry into the country’s lockdown response.

Germany and France’s lockdown restrictions

In Europe, a number of countries, including Germany and France, still have lockdown restrictions in force to some extent.

Some countries are beginning to offer their citizens some relief. Italy is planning to ease lockdowns in Lombardy – a region hit hardest during the pandemic. Italy’s eastern neighbours Slovenia have also announced that it will end its six-month-long curfew.

The availability of vaccines isn’t the only hurdle, though. Specifically, in Europe, a number of countries are very hesitant in their vaccine rollout; doing their utmost to guard against the possibility of side effects.