Americans are gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving just as Europe’s winter surge spreads from Plymouth Rock. ‘The germs know the way to carry the slay…’

(Originally published Nov. 24 in “What in the World“) Just as Americans hit the road in droves to congregate with kin for revenge celebrations of Thanksgiving, Covid is handing out the equivalent of germ-infested blankets, with health officials warning of a fifth wave that could once again overwhelm hospitals.

Unlike previous surges, however, the demographics of the Delta strain are skewing younger. American kids are reportedly coming down with Covid at an accelerating rate. Children have accounted for 17% of all U.S. cases so far, but until earlier this month, zero vaccinations. Thankfully, the U.S. is now vaccinating kids aged five to 11. Europe is still preparing the regulatory approvals required to do the same.

Despite its vaccination efforts, Covid has managed to kill more Americans this year than in 2020 when there were no vaccines—the nation is closing in fast on the 800,000 mark. That’s because too few people were vaccinated when restrictions were lifted in the summer, leaving more people susceptible to the more contagious Delta variant as it swept across the country.

Now, winter is coming and more than 40% of Americans remains unvaccinated. Some are questioning why, despite evidence in late summer that the effectiveness of vaccines was waning, it took so long for the federal government to approve booster shots—a move that remains controversial among those calling for more doses to be delivered to poor countries first. Yet the administration of President Joe Biden is still appealing a court stay against its mandate for large employers to vaccinate all employees starting next January.

For a preview of coming U.S. attractions, look no further than Europe. The World Health Organization has warned that Europe’s winter wave of infections is on track to kill two million people by next spring. Slovakia, which with the highest infection rate of any country is the red-hot epicenter of the pandemic at the moment, is thinking of following Austria into total lockdown. Germany, which is still setting record infection rates, is just about to cross the 100,000 threshold. While that’s alarming, it’s still a far lower death relative toll than U.S. has allowed Covid to impose on its own population.

Living with the virus?

It almost goes without saying—but perhaps it doesn’t—that the winter wave is also putting a damper on Europe’s economy, so The New York Times has taken the time to remind us that the pandemic is more than just an inconvenience to pub-goers.

“It stings the toes and bites the nose…”