In a joint opinion article from Hans Kluge, regional director WHO for Europe, and Batyr Berdyklychev, the global agency’s representative in Turkey, stressed that all could not bear another increase in virus cases and deaths.
READ ALSO – WHO Announces New Variant of Covid-19 That Exceeds Delta Has Been Detected
“We were in this position last summer. When restrictions were eased too quickly in some European countries, we saw an increase in cases and deaths across the European Region which led us to return to mobility restrictions,” the article said.
The paper warns that “although vaccination continues across the European Region, a large proportion of the population remains unvaccinated, while highly contagious viral variants are a cause for concern.”
The officials WHO underlined that several measures should be adopted so that people can take advantage of the summer in a safer way, including vaccination.
The article said that 37 percent of citizens in the European Region received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while the rate of people fully vaccinated was 23.9 percent, indicating that the pandemic is not over, even in countries with high vaccination coverage.
“The more contagious Delta variant is causing an increase in cases and hospitalizations across the European Region. Therefore, it is imperative to use the tools at our disposal to prevent transmission and save lives, adapt public health and social measures to local contexts and ensure fair and prompt vaccinations,” they said.
Calling Turkey’s vaccination campaign very successful, the article said Eid al-Adha is getting closer to the peak of summer, therefore vaccinations and adherence to public health and protective social measures can be taken.
“We are often asked when this pandemic will end. The short answer is it’s up to you.”
“Protecting yourself and others is critical to controlling this pandemic – and ultimately, to ending it,” the article states.
(wbs)
– .
