The United Kingdom and the Netherlands provide an interesting case study into what Australia’s future could look like once the majority of the population is fully vaccinated.
Both nations have already unwound most COVID-19 restrictions. Britain on Monday is scheduled to do away with all of its legal coronavirus restrictions in what is dubbed “Freedom Day”.
In the Netherlands, nightclubs have reopened and festivals have return with massive crowds congregating:
Massive crowds in the Netherlands.
As expected, COVID infections are surging in both nations, rapidly approaching prior peaks:
COVID infections surging.
However, because of both nations’ very high vaccination rates:
Most residents in UK and Netherlands are vaccinated.
Hospital admissions related to COVID remain way down on prior peaks; albeit rising in the UK:
Hospital admissions low.
ICU admissions are lower:
COVID ICU admissions low.
And few people are now dying of COVID:
Hardly anybody now dying of COVID.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially across the Netherlands. But for now it looks as if the link between COVID infections, hospitalisations and deaths has been well and truly broken.
Here’s how Australia’s vaccination rates are travelling against those nations:
Australia’s vaccination rate low.
Hopefully by the end of the year, once Australia has caught up, we too can stop locking down.
