The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that coronavirus cases are surging alarmingly in Europe, as a “very serious situation” unfolds across the continent.
European governments have been imposing strict local measures and considering further lockdowns and restrictions, in a bid to bring to halt a second wave of the pandemic as the covid-19 infections spike to record numbers,
WHO regional director, Hans Kluge however said at a news conference that, the increase in cases should serve as a warning of what is to come.
“Weekly cases have now exceeded those reported when the pandemic first peaked in Europe in March,” Kluge said. “Last week, the region’s weekly tally exceeded 300,000 patients.”
Kluge added that more than half of European nations have reported an increase of more than 10% in new cases in the past two weeks.
“Of those, seven countries have seen newly reported cases increase more than two-fold in the same period.
“In the spring and early summer we were able to see the impact of strict lockdown measures. Our efforts, our sacrifices, paid off. In June, cases hit an all-time low. The September case numbers, however, should serve as a wake-up call for all of us.
“Although these numbers reflect more comprehensive testing, it also shows alarming rates of transmission across the region.”
While there was an increase in cases in older age groups, ranging from 50 to 79 in the first week of September, Kluge said, the biggest proportion of new cases is still among 25- to 49-year-olds.
Countries across the continent have been easing lockdowns and reopening their economies, but governments are now scrambling to avert further outbreaks.
“This pandemic has taken so much from us,” Kluge said, citing the nearly 4.9 million recorded Covid-19 cases in Europe and more than 226,000 deaths. “And this tells only part of the story,” he said. “The impact on our mental health, economies, livelihoods and society has been monumental.”
In France, Covid-19 hospitalizations have risen in recent days in large cities such as Paris, Bordeaux and Marseille.
The number of new infections is rising fast with a new record set over the weekend as more than 10,000 new cases were recorded in a single day. The number of clusters has been rising steadily and the number of people in intensive care nationwide has risen 25%.
Cases in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy have also increased.
New restrictions have been imposed across England barring people from meeting socially in groups of more than six, of all ages, indoors or outdoors. Scotland and Wales have also tightened their social distancing rules.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced in Parliament that stricter measures will apply in the northeast of England from 18th September amid a “concerning rise” in Covid-19 infection rates there.
Hancock stressed the need to take “immediate action” against the virus with winter approaching.
At least 41,773 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, according to the Johns Hopkins University, the highest toll in Europe and fifth-largest number of any country in the world.
