Will the Delta coronavirus variant cancel Europe’s summer vacation?

[Anonymous]

For those of you with European travel plans this summer...
https://www.politico.eu/article/will-the-coronavirus-covid19-delta-variant-cancel-europe-summer-vacation/

Holidaymakers worried about the Delta coronavirus variant destroying their vacation plans can cautiously relax — so long as Europe keeps pushing ahead on vaccinations and jumps on any outbreaks.

That's what most experts are saying about the Delta variant, first identified in India, as it sweeps across the U.K., pushing up rates of infection since mid-May to a high of 11,007 cases on Thursday. In a country where 60 percent of adults have had two vaccine doses and 80 percent at least one dose, Delta now accounts for 99 percent of infections and has prompted the government to delay a full reopening in England until mid-July.

Wales followed suit on Thursday, delaying a final easing of restrictions as First Minister Mark Drakeford warned a third wave was "certainly underway."

And now, Europe is closely watching whether these cases translate into severe illness and deaths.

So far, deaths in the U.K. have remained stable and low, mostly in daily single figures. But hospitalizations have been creeping up this month — in line with analysis from Scotland that found the variant doubles the risk of hospitalization.

This all began in April, when the U.K. received flak for delaying a travel ban from India until April 23, well into that country's devastating crisis. In the four weeks before that decision, 425 travelers arriving from India tested positive, or 6 percent of arrivals. At that point, 63 percent of Britons had had their first vaccine dose, but only 23 percent their second dose.