Covid-19 infections in Europe surge 10 pct after 10-week decline

People sit at Areopagus hill overlooking the ancient Acropolis in Athens, Greece on June 24, 2021, as outdoor mask-wearing rules dropped amid the Covid-19 pandemic. – AFP photo

GENEVA (July 2): A 10-week decline in Covid-19 cases in Europe ended last week and was followed by a 10 per cent surge in infections, prompting the regional World Health Organisation (WHO) chief to urge people on Thursday to take care during the EURO 2020 football tournament.

“Last week, the number of cases rose by 10 per cent, driven by increased mixing, travel, gatherings, and easing of social restrictions,” Anadolu Agency (AA) quoted Hans Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe.

“This is taking place in the context of a rapidly evolving situation, a new variant of concern – the Delta variant – and in a region where despite tremendous efforts by member states, millions remain unvaccinated,” he added.

He said the Delta strain overtakes variants very quickly through multiple and repeated introductions “and is already translating into increased hospitalisations and deaths.”

Kluge warned that the WHO European Region would be “Delta dominant” by August, but the region will not be fully vaccinated as 63 per cent of people are still waiting for their first jab.

The WHO European Region will remain mostly restriction-free in August, with increased travels and gatherings, he said.

“Today, I am not here to cold shower any EURO 2020 fans or anyone’s holidays, but before we watch our players, and before we all pack and go for some well-deserved rest near home or far away,” Kluge said he had important messages.

If people decide to travel and gather, he urged them to “assess the risks and do it safely,” keeping all life-saving reflexes such as masks and self-protection, especially indoors and in crowds.

“Take the jab, don’t think twice, take it, for you and for others,” he urged, noting that the vaccines should be brought “to our most vulnerable ones first.”

He added that the three conditions for a new wave of excess hospitalisations and deaths before the autumn is in place.

New variants, a vaccine uptake deficit, and increased social mixing are among them, according to Kluge.

“There will be a new wave in the WHO European Region unless we remain disciplined, and even more so when there are far fewer rules in place to follow, and unless we all take the vaccine without hesitation when it is our turn,” he also noted. – Bernama

from Borneo Post Online https://bit.ly/2SIrsI7
via IFTTT