{"id":49120,"date":"2022-01-11T16:04:20","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T15:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unric.org\/en\/?p=49120"},"modified":"2022-01-26T11:56:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T10:56:26","slug":"who-50-of-the-population-in-europe-could-be-infected-by-covid-in-next-2-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unric.org\/en\/who-50-of-the-population-in-europe-could-be-infected-by-covid-in-next-2-months\/","title":{"rendered":"WHO: 50% of the population in Europe could be infected by Covid in next 2 months"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Health Organization (WHO) says health systems in many countries have come under “intense pressure” from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Over<\/strong> 50% of the population in the\u00a0<\/strong>European\u00a0<\/strong>Region could be infected with Omicron in the next 6-8 weeks,<\/strong>\u00a0according to the\u00a0<\/strong>Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Hans Kluge, European Regional Director of WHO, told a press conference in Copenhagen today that\u00a0the 53 countries in the Europe\u00a0Region saw over 7 million newly reported cases of COVID-19 in the first week of 2022, figures which more than doubled over a two-week period.<\/p>\n

As of 10\u00a0January, 26 countries in Europe reported that over 1% of their population had been infected with COVID-19 each week.<\/p>\n

Although the rate of death and hospitalization have been lower than in previous waves,\u00a0due to the\u00a0unprecedented scale of transmission, COVID-19 hospitalizations\u00a0are rising. “It is challenging health systems and service delivery in many countries where Omicron has spread at speed and threatens to overwhelm in many more,” Dr. Kluge said.<\/p>\n

Vaccinations provide good protection<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Allow me to reiterate that the currently approved vaccines do continue to provide good protection against severe disease and death, including for Omicron,” Dr. Kluge said.\u00a0Taking the example of Denmark, where Omicron cases have exploded in recent weeks,\u00a0Kluge pointed out that\u00a0the COVID-19 hospitalization rate for unvaccinated patients was 6-fold higher than for those who were fully vaccinated in the week over Christmas.<\/p>\n

Dr. Kluge said that in countries where the Omicron surge has begun, the priority should be to avoid and reduce harm among the vulnerable and\u00a0<\/strong>minimize disruption to health systems and essential services.<\/p>\n

“Any decision to shorten recommended quarantine or isolation periods should be taken in combination with negative COVID-19 tests and only when considered\u00a0essential to preserve critical service continuity. Any decisions to do so must be taken with careful weighing of the risks and benefits of doing so.”<\/p>\n

Schools should be the last to close<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Kluge emphasized the need to keep schools open\u00a0since they had\u00a0important benefits for children\u2019s mental, social and educational well-being.\u00a0“Schools should be the last places to close and the first to reopen.”<\/p>\n

Due to Omicron\u2019s greater transmissibility,\u00a0WHO Europe says the following guidelines remain\u00a0essential:<\/p>\n