Corona lashes through Europe: Now comes a “worrying” forecast from the WHO

The corona numbers are climbing rapidly across Europe. The continent is again at the center of the pandemic. The WHO is very concerned about this.

London – Unfortunately, the news is anything but new: The corona numbers have been rising rapidly not only in Germany for weeks – the fourth wave is inevitably rolling towards Europe. It is precisely that continent that is particularly hard hit by the increase in infections. The WHO’s latest corona forecasts are also bitter.

Corona: WHO warns urgently – Europe will soon be epicenter of the pandemic again?

Dr. In this context, Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that Europe “is once again at the epicenter of the pandemic”. That reports fr.de. At the WHO, the doctor is responsible for the infection rate within the 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. It is precisely these that give him great cause for concern, as he explained at a press conference in London.

Because those infection numbers are approaching a new record level. Kluge: “Every single country in Europe and Central Asia is currently exposed to a real threat of the resurgence of Covid-19 or is already fighting against it. The pace in the 53 countries is very worrying. “

WHO warns: another 500,000 corona deaths in Europe by February?

Here are the hard facts: Almost 1.8 million people in Europe contracted Corona in the last week. Converted, this equates to a full 59 percent of all cases worldwide. During this period, 24,000 people died from the virus. All in all, according to Kluge, this accounts for a six percent increase in infections, and twelve percent for deaths.

The doctor’s worrying prognosis: If the pandemic continues to develop at this rate, another 500,000 corona deaths can be expected in Europe by mid-February. This would also hit clinics and hospitals hard. In this case you would hit your limit again. The WHO expert therefore urges: “We have to change our tactics and no longer just react, but effectively prevent the virus from spreading again.”

But what is the reason for the extreme increase in the corona numbers? Kluge explains this primarily with two points: low corona vaccination rates and the easing of social contacts. Combined with the spread of new, highly contagious Corona variants, this leads to the high infection rate.

In Germany, the first federal state no longer wants to promise unvaccinated people treatment in its own clinics. Read more news from all over the world here. (kof)