WHO warns that new wave of COVID is inevitable in Europe in cases Coronavirus pandemic News

A third wave of infection is inevitable unless citizens and legislators are “disciplined,” the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that a 10-week decline in coronavirus infections across Europe is over.

The number of new cases across Europe rose 10% last week, Hans Kluge, the European region’s director of the UN health agency, announced on Thursday in a new report in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The European region of 53 WHO countries includes all 27 states of the European Union, including the United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey, several Central Asian nations and Israel.

Kluge said the rise in infections has led to an increase in mixing, travel, reunion and social cuts as countries across the region are allowed to block measures.

“This is happening in the context of a rapid situation that is happening. A new variant of concern – the Delta variant – and a region that continues to be uninsulated by millions despite Member States ’tremendous efforts,” he said, citing the first strain found in India.

“There will be a new wave unless we continue to be disciplined in the WHO European region.”

Last week, the number of cases rose by 10% due to easing of confusion, travel, reunion and social restrictions. This is happening in the context of a fast-paced situation – @hans_kluge

– OME / Europe (@WHO_Europe) July 1, 2021

Kluge warned that the highly unchanging Delta variant was on its way to becoming the main European regional strain in the WHO in August.

‘Conditions for the new wave’

He said the vaccines would not be deployed effectively enough to provide the necessary protection between the waves. 63 percent of the region’s population has not yet received the first dose.

Vaccines have been shown to provide some protection against the Delta variant, but a higher level requires two doses.

Marco Cavaleri, head of the European Medical Agency’s vaccination strategy, said at a press conference on Thursday: “Data emerging from real-world evidence shows that two doses of vaccine are protected against the Delta variant.”

Kluge said the average vaccine coverage in the European region is 24 percent.

Half of the elderly and 40 percent of health workers were still unprotected, he said.

“That’s unacceptable, and it’s a far cry from the recommended coverage of 80 percent of the adult population,” he told reporters.

“There are three conditions for a new wave of over-hospitalization and death before the fall, therefore: new variants, a deficit in vaccination, an increase in social unrest.”

Kluge has advised people who want to travel and gather in the summer in Europe to follow “life-saving reflexes” such as wearing masks.

The EU has launched a travel certificate

His appeal came on Thursday when the EU launched the digital COVID certification system, a system designed to allow people to travel more freely in the 27-nation bloc and open up summer tourism.

The document – basically a QR code – is free and will show whether the carrier is fully embedded with four EU-approved boxes, made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

It shall also indicate whether a person has recovered from COVID or has obtained a final negative result and has given and will serve in all EU countries, specified in the national language and in English.

The system also extends to non-EU countries in the Schengen area without borders – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

About 40% of all EU adults are fully integrated.

While a UN study this week supports EU approval of COVID-19 as a rare example of countries harmonizing travel arrangements, it is not expected to be able to fully rescue the tourism industry.

It doesn’t completely remove restrictions on those who haven’t been vaccinated – which means many travelers including children would have to take COVID-19 tests – and the national government is still setting specific travel rules.