Covid-19-related deaths and hospitalizations will continue to grow in Europe in the next weeks, according to a prominent European health institution, as immunisation rates are insufficient to halt the trend.
To curb the spread of the virus, European governments have implemented a variety of measures, including lockdowns for the unvaccinated and early restaurant and bar closings. The number of cases is still rising, according to Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
“There will be increasing dimensions of cases, deaths, hospitalisation, and ICU admissions in the next weeks,” she warned a gathering of EU health ministers in Brussels. “With the omicron version, the situation becomes even more serious.”
According to the ECDC, at least 274 omicron cases have been reported in 19 European nations. There haven’t been any reports of serious illness or death, according to the FDA, but it’s still too early to draw any conclusions.
Epidemiological update as of 7/12 on the #Omicron variant:
– since 6/12, 62 additional #SARSCoV2 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the EU/EEA, bringing the total to 274 confirmed cases. Cases have been reported by 19 countries.
More info: https://t.co/whOJUtTFOB#COVID19
— ECDC Outbreaks (@ECDC_Outbreaks) December 7, 2021
Six EU countries, according to EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides, still have total immunisation rates below 55%.
Austria stated on Tuesday that a statewide lockdown will cease this weekend for persons who have been inoculated against Covid-19 or have recovered from the virus, but those who refuse to be vaccinated will continue to be restricted from participating in public life.
Poland switched to online schooling for an extended holiday break on Tuesday, and health-care personnel and teachers were required to be vaccinated.
The omicron variety has added to the continent’s uncertainty, with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health predicting that it might become the prevalent strain in the country within weeks.
