The cases of Covid-19 started to increase again last week in Europe after ten consecutive weeks of decline, announced Thursday the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), against a background of the rise of the more contagious Delta variant. “There will be a new wave in the European region unless we stay disciplined,” WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told an online press conference.
10% more cases last week
After ten weeks of declining cases, last week the number of cases rose 10% in the Europe region, which has 53 countries, due according to Hans Kluge “to the increase in brewing, travel, gatherings and the relaxation of social restrictions “. WHO Europe predicts that the so-called Delta variant, initially detected in India, will become “dominant” by August, he said, confirming the projection of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The latter expects it to constitute 70% of new European cases in early August and 90% at the end of August. “But in August, the region will not be fully vaccinated” and also “largely without restrictions” underlined the director of WHO Europe, recalling that 63% of Europeans had not yet had the first dose.
“What we are observing is that (a new wave) could arrive before the fall,” warned Catherine Smallwood, another head of the UN health organization. In the laboratory or in real life, studies also converge on one point: receiving a single dose of vaccine provides only limited protection against the Delta variant.
The Euro, a “supercontaminant”?
Asked about the risk that Euro football has played or is playing the role of “super contaminant”, Hans Kluge replied: “I hope not, but I cannot rule it out”. The host cities of the last matches of Euro football must ensure better monitoring of the movement of spectators, including before their arrival and after their departure from the stadium, according to the WHO.
“We need to look well beyond the stadiums themselves,” said Catherine Smallwood, when asked about recommendations in the face of rising cases in London and St. Petersburg, and more recently in Baku.
The British capital is due to host the semi-finals and the final of the tournament next week, the second Russian city will be the scene of the quarter-final between Switzerland and Spain on Friday. As for the capital of Azerbaijan, it welcomes Denmark-Czech Republic on Saturday.
Several hundred cases have been detected in spectators of Euro matches, including Scots returning from London, Finns returning from St. Petersburg or spectators in the Copenhagen stadium who were found to be carriers of the more contagious variant. Delta.
“What we have to look at around the stadiums is how people get there, are they moving in crowded bus convoys or are they applying individual measures?” responsible for the UN.
WHO Europe is also calling for better monitoring of what spectators can do “when they leave the stadium, do they go to busy bars or pubs?” She added. The UN organization called for vigilance on all large summer gatherings in general, Euro football or not.
As an entertainment author with over 7 years of experience, I bring a diverse background to my writing. I have a proven track record in the journalism industry. My expertise extends beyond writing, as I have experience producing video content for websites and social media platforms, offering a well-rounded perspective on the entertainment world
