As a deadly third wave of Covid infections sweeps across the continent, Jon Henley reports on how EU leaders are considering restricting exports of vaccines in a move that could inflame tensions with the UK
A third wave of coronavirus infections is now raging across Europe, with the British variant (B117) dominating new infections. The World Health Organization said the number of cases on the continent had risen on average by 12% in a week, but in some countries the rise has been much larger.
The Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley, tells Anushka Asthana that the surge of new cases comes amid a growing anger at the slow pace of vaccinations across the EU. Much of this stems from supply issues born out of a struggle to agree contracts early enough and now compounded by a large shortfall in doses from AstraZeneca.
