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The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a worrying increase in COVID-19 deaths in Europe if stricter measures are not taken. Other continents should take action to safeguard!
WHO calls for urgent action!
The Biden administration lifted restrictions on Nov. 8, ending a travel ban that had closed the U.S. to travelers for 20 months in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Regulations now require travelers to present proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test to enter the US. But now the WHO director for Europe has called for urgent action as COVID-19 cases have risen to record levels in many European countries. “COVID-19 has again become the number one cause of death in our region,” Dr Hans Kluge told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Fear of Corona winter!
Kluge said he was “very concerned” about the rise caused by winter weather, low vaccination coverage and the dominance of the highly transmissible delta variant of the virus.
He explained that far too many people in Europe remain susceptible to the virus, either because they have not been vaccinated or because their immunity to the vaccine is waning.
Kluge warned that the continent could see another half-million deaths by March 1 if stricter measures are not taken. “We know what needs to be done,” he said.
What needs to be done now to contain the virus
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Kluge said wearing masks, increasing vaccination rates and conducting booster shots would help contain the spread of COVID-19. He also said more attention should be paid to ventilation and new treatment protocols should be put in place to combat the rise in infections.
“Towards the end of 2021, the #COVID19 situation in the European Region is extremely worrying,” Kluge tweeted on Saturday. “But we have the tools to control transmission, save lives and keep societies open.”
This is what you can do personally to improve the situation!
“Number one, get vaccinated if you are eligible,” he said in a follow-up tweet.
“Wear a mask in crowded, enclosed and confined spaces,” the tweet said, adding that people should also cover coughs and sneezes, keep physical distance from others, wash their hands regularly and ventilate indoor spaces.
Some countries have already made vaccination mandatory!
Smart’s warning comes after Austria on Friday became the first European country to announce that its entire population is legally required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The country’s vaccination coverage rate is among the lowest in Western Europe.
Austria will also impose a nationwide lockdown starting Monday. The lockdown will last “a maximum of 20 days,” Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said.
Protests erupted in Austria’s capital Vienna after the announcement.
The Netherlands also saw a second night of unrest on Saturday after the country imposed a partial lockdown in response to a record rise in COVID-19 cases.