Covid: WHO says it is very worried about Europe surge
The World Health Organization (WHO) is "very
worried" about the spread of Covid-19 in Europe as the continent battles a
fresh wave of infections.
Speaking to the BBC, regional director Dr Hans Kluge warned
that 500,000 more deaths could be recorded by March unless urgent action is
taken.
Dr Kluge said an increase in mask wearing could immediately
help.
The warning comes as several nations report record-high
infection rates and introduce full and partial lockdowns.
Dr Kluge said factors like the winter season, insufficient
vaccine coverage and the regional dominance of the more transmissible Delta
variant were behind the spread. He called for increased vaccine uptake and the
implementation of basic public health measures and new medical treatments to
help fight the rise.
"Covid-19 has become once again the number one cause of
mortality in our region," he told the BBC, adding "we know what needs
to be done" in order to fight the virus.
Dr Kluge said mandatory vaccination measures should be seen
as a "last resort" but that it would be "very timely" to
have a "legal and societal debate" about the issue.
"Before that there are other means like the Covid
pass," he said, adding that this is "not a restriction of liberty,
rather it is a tool to keep our individual freedom."
Austria on Friday became the first European country to
announce that Covid-19 vaccination would become a legal requirement. The new
rules are set to come into force in February, as details of how the measure
will be enforced are still being discussed.
The announcement, alongside that of a new national lockdown
was made in response to record case numbers and low vaccination levels.
Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said it was a
difficult decision to take in a free society, but that the jabs were "the
only exit ticket we have to break this vicious circle".
"It's a problem for the whole society because even
those that are vaccinated, if they don't have access to an intensive care unit
because they're blocked by those who are not vaccinated and got sick, so then
they are affected as well," Mr Schallenberg told the media
Many other European countries are also imposing new measures
as cases rise.
Countries including the Czech Republic and Slovakia have
also announced fresh restrictions on unvaccinated people as record infection
rates are recorded across the continent.
In Germany, Health Minister Jens Spahn described the
situation as a "national emergency" and refused to rule another
national lockdown out.
The UK recorded 44,242 new coronavirus cases on Friday.
The government has consistently said it has no plans for
another lockdown, but has said it could bring in extra Covid measures in
England to protect the NHS - known as Plan B - which include mandatory Covid
passports for some indoor venues, compulsory face coverings in certain indoor
settings and advice to work from home.
Source BBC
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