The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday that the European epidemic's downward trend has ended, and a new round of epidemics is expected soon.
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warned at a press conference: “The 10-week decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in 53 countries in the WHO European region has ended.”
He pointed out that due to the relaxation of travel, gathering and social restrictions, the number of cases in the region rose by 10% last week.
The raging Delta variant virus has increased the risk of a resurgence of the epidemic in Europe. Kluge said that the data has shown that the Delta variant is more contagious than the Alpha variant. The Delta variant is rapidly replacing the Alpha variant, which has translated into an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
He pointed out that by August, the Delta mutant strain will become the main strain spreading in the European region, but vaccination still cannot keep up. Kluge predicts that in August, 63% of people in Europe are still waiting for the first dose of vaccination, and restrictions on public life are likely to be lifted next month. Take the United Kingdom as an example. Although the vaccination rate is high, there are also a large number of cases caused by the Delta variant, and the country plans to end the restriction on July 19.
Kluge mentioned that although the vaccine is effective against the Delta mutant strain, it requires two full doses to be effective. At present, the average vaccination rate in Europe is only 24%. What's more serious is that half of the elderly and 40% of medical staff are still unprotected.
Kluge said that the three conditions for a new wave of hospitalizations and deaths in Europe before the fall are already in place: new mutant strains, insufficient vaccination, and increased social integration.
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