The World Health Organization (WHO) is deeply concerned about the rising number of corona infections in Europe. The director for Europe Hans Kluge warns that according to “a reliable forecast” half a million more will be killed before February. 43 countries in our region will experience high to extreme pressure on hospital beds during the same period.
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The coronavirus is currently spreading rapidly in the 53 countries that are in the European area of the health organization, the WHO emphasizes. Of all new infections reported worldwide last week, no less than 59 percent came from these countries. That includes 48 percent of all reported deaths.
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Records
The number of infections in the European area has now been rising for six weeks in a row, among all age groups. GermanySlovenia and Croatia reported their highest daily rates since the start of the pandemic on Thursday. The number of hospital admissions has also doubled in Europe in a week.
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According to Kluge, the development of the corona figures is a cause for “serious concern”. Europe is once again the epicenter of the pandemic, the chief executive said.
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“Changing Tactics”
Kluge points out that the increase is caused by the relaxation of corona measures and too low a vaccination coverage.
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“We need to change our tactics,” said the WHO director. Instead of taking action when the number of infections peaks, according to Kluge, we should look at ways in which these peaks can be prevented. He calls on health authorities to carefully reconsider the relaxation of measures.
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WHO CEO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has again called for a better distribution of corona vaccines in the world during a press conference on Thursday evening. According to him, vaccine doses should now mainly go to poorer countries where only a few people have received a shot and are not used for booster shots for the masses. Booster shots should only be given to people with weakened immune systems. Unequal vaccination is a threat to all countries, not just those with fewer vaccines.
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“All tools available”
WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove noted that the situation in Europe is indeed deteriorating at the moment, despite more than enough vaccines in this region and all the necessary tools available to do something about the situation. “We need action,” she said. “And we need leaders. Action needs to be taken on several levels.”
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Mike Ryan, head of the WHO Health Emergency Programme, described the situation in Europe as an important “warning shot” for the rest of the world. Ryan said some European countries have “sub-optimal vaccination coverage” despite high vaccine availability.
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“Let me be very clear: this shouldn’t happen,” Ghebreyesus said more generally of the rise in the number of corona deaths in 56 countries and the growing pressure on the healthcare sector in many countries. “We have all the tools at this stage of the pandemic to prevent corona transmission and save lives, and we continue to call on all countries to use those tools. We now know what to do. It is time for action.”
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