In Europe “countries have revoked the anti-Covid measures”, therefore “the virus will be transmitted at high levels during the summer” thanks to the Omicron 5 variant and “the increase in the incidence in people at risk of serious illness will lead to a growth in hospitalizations, a greater interruption of essential health services and unfortunately could lead to an excess of deaths “. This is the fear expressed by Hans Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization for Europe, in an interview with the Turkish news agency Anadolu.
On the one hand “the diffusion of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants”, on the other hand “the increase in travel, gatherings and summer events”, are the main factors that push the number one WHO Europe to launch a Warning: “New cases of Covid-19 have doubled in the last month across the region” and “we should be concerned” about this trend, which is “a stark reminder” reminding us that “we are not out of danger yet.”
For Kluge, “regardless of whether countries loosen or tighten” anti-contagion measures, “we can all do our part to protect ourselves and others, by following some simple practices such as regular hand washing and vaccinating ourselves”, so by “increasing immunization rates particularly among older people and with other chronic conditions”.
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