WHO warns against carelessness: new pandemic wave looms in Europe

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Although Corona relaxations and summer are creating euphoria, WHO has warned against carelessness. The organization fears an impending wave of pandemics in Europe.

Relaxations, vacation joys and European soccer championship euphoria are currently brightening the mood in many places. But carelessness is not appropriate in view of the highly contagious coronavirus variant Delta, as WHO Europe pointed out on Thursday. For the first time in ten weeks, the number of new infections is rising again, and without disciplined countermeasures, a new pandemic wave threatens, according to the World Health Organization’s urgent warning.

New pandemic wave looms in Europe
Driven by “travel, gatherings and relaxation of social restrictions,” the number of new Corona infections rose by 10 percent last week in his reporting area, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said in Copenhagen. Europe faces the threat of a new pandemic wave “unless we remain disciplined,” he said.

While Austria and Turkey enacted relaxations, Russia again reported a record number of Corona deaths – with 672 victims within 24 hours, the third consecutive day of a new high. So far, only 17.4 million of Russia’s 146 million people have received at least one Corona vaccine dose.

Highly contagious delta variant drives increase in new infections
Countries such as Portugal and the United Kingdom are currently struggling with an increase in new infections. The trend is attributed in particular to the spread of the highly contagious delta variant. In Austria and Germany, case numbers continue to trend downward. However, the so-called delta variant is causing concern in both countries.

Kluge said nowhere in his area of responsibility, which includes 53 countries and territories in Europe, as well as Central Asia, has the Corona vaccination campaign progressed to the point where it provides the necessary protection against delta spread. The proportion of vaccinated people in the population is only 24 percent, he said. “This is unacceptable, and it is far from the recommended coverage of 80 percent of the adult population,” Kluge criticized.

WHO calls for better protective measures at European soccer championships
WHO also called for better protective measures around the European soccer championships. “We need to look much further than just the stadiums,” said WHO Europe Emergency Commissioner Catherine Smallwood in Copenhagen. She said fans’ travel, for example in buses, and their celebrations in pubs also need to be looked at. Asked whether the European Championship would be a “superspread” event, Kluge said this “cannot be ruled out.”

Hundreds of Corona infections have already been registered among EM stadium visitors in recent weeks, including among Scots returning from London and Finns from St. Petersburg. Despite the current high incidence of the delta variant in the two cities, Friday’s European Championship quarterfinal between Switzerland and Spain will take place in St. Petersburg and the semifinals and final in London.

Mobility has increased significantly due to the summer
In any case, mobility has increased significantly because of the summer vacations. Thursday saw the official launch of the EU’s digital vaccination certificate, which is designed to facilitate travel in pandemic times. After Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, Austria also enacted further relaxations. In this country, discos and nightclubs are allowed to reopen and the mask requirement is restricted. In Turkey, Sunday and nighttime curfews were dropped.

The Thai vacation region of Phuket may visit vaccinated tourists again without quarantine. The first holidaymakers landed on the main island on Thursday. In South Asian Bangladesh, however, a strict lockdown went into effect. People are now only allowed to leave their homes for shopping and in emergencies. Policemen and soldiers patrolled almost empty streets to monitor the rules, from which textile factories producing for chains such as H&M and Walmart are exempt, however.

In Indonesia, President Joko Widodo ordered emergency restrictions to be in place from Saturday until July 20. The now good 21,000 new Corona infections per day had “forced him to take stricter measures,” the country said.