WHO warns that Europe is at “critical point” of coronavirus outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned this Thursday that the situation of the pandemic of coronavirus on Europe It is of “great concern” and pointed to the insufficient coverage of vaccines and the relaxation of restrictions to explain the rise in cases experienced in recent weeks.

“We are at another critical point for the outbreak of the pandemic. Europe is back at the epicenter of the pandemic, where we were a year ago. The difference today is that we know more and can do more”, He said at a press conference the director of OMS-Europa, Hans Kluge.

Kluge insisted on the need to act “proactively” and defended the reimplantation of social and public health measures, ensuring that if the current evolution continues, half a million people could die in Europe and Central Asia between now and February 1, 2022 if not to react.

The European region of the WHO -which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia- registered almost 1.8 million new cases and 24,000 deaths last week, and in Europe the increase in transmissions in the last four amounts to 55%.

Although the increase in cases is generalized in all age groups, the WHO highlighted as more worrying the “rapid” increase in the elderly, since 75% of deaths are of people over 65 years.

Kluge praised that 23 countries have strengthened social measures in recent weeks, but criticized that another seven have relaxed them and urged the authorities to “reconsider” such actions at the present time.

According to “reliable projections”, 95% of generalized use of the mask would save up to 188,000 lives of the half million deaths calculated until February, said the WHO, which also mentioned other measures such as test, contact tracing, ventilation in closed spaces and physical distance.

“We must change our tactic, from reacting to covid-19 outbreaks to preventing them from happening in the first place.”Kluge stated.

Vaccines have made it possible that despite touching the record of new cases, deaths have been reduced by half, but coverage varies greatly: while eight countries in the region exceed 70% of the population with the total guideline, in others the percentage does not reach 10%.

Hence, the WHO insists on the importance of increasing coverage in priority groups in those countries and of “global solidarity” to share doses.

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