WHO predicts "high levels" of Covid this summer in Europe.
Key Takeaways:
- After cases of Covid-19 tripled in the preceding month, the World Health Organization warned that "high levels" of the disease were expected in Europe this summer and encouraged states to monitor the disease's spread.
- People with respiratory symptoms were recommended by the WHO to isolate themselves, keep immunized, and wear masks in crowded places.
The World Health Organization alerted that "high levels" of Covid-19 were anticipated in Europe this summer and urged nations to keep an eye on the disease's spread after instances tripled in the previous month.
According to WHO Europe Regional Director Hans Kluge, "the virus will transmit at high levels over the summer as countries across the European region have withdrawn the social controls previously in place."
"The fact that nations stop seeking this virus won't make it go away. It continues to expand, change, and claim human lives."
According to data from the WHO, the 53 nations in the European region already register slightly under 500,000 cases per day as the milder but more contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5 spreads across the continent.
During the end of May, there were nearly 150,000 cases every day.
The countries with the greatest incidence rates were Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, and Portugal, with instances increasing in practically all other countries in the region.
Europe is currently seeing 500 deaths per day, roughly the same rate as during the summer of 2020, after recording between 4,000 and 5,000 deaths per day throughout most of the winter.
According to Kluge, we expect that the robust vaccination programs the majority of the member states have put in place, along with prior illness, will help us avoid the more serious repercussions that we saw earlier in the epidemic.
He emphasized, "Our suggestions still stand, though.
The WHO advised people with respiratory symptoms to isolate themselves, stay up to date on their vaccines, and wear masks in busy settings.
Additionally, Kluge asked member nations to continue conducting viral tests.
To see patterns of transmission and viral evolution, we must continue to search for the virus, according to Kluge.
Additionally, he urged nations to raise their vaccination rates.
To stop additional deaths this summer, he said, "high population immunity and the choices made to minimize risk to older individuals is crucial."