A major European health agency warned on Tuesday that the number of deaths and hospitalizations due to Covid-19 in Europe will continue to rise in the coming weeks because vaccination rates are still insufficient to cope with this trend.

European countries have adopted a series of different measures to combat the spread of the virus, including the lockdown of unvaccinated people and the early closure of restaurants and bars. But Andrea Amon, director of the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the death toll is still increasing. “In the coming weeks, the parameters of cases, deaths, hospitalizations and ICU admissions will increase,” she said at a meeting of the EU Health Minister in Brussels. “The variant of Omicron makes the whole situation even more worrying.”

ECDC stated that it has recorded at least 274 Omicron cases in 19 European countries. The agency added that there are no reports of serious illnesses or deaths, but it is too early to draw conclusions.

EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides stated that the overall vaccination rate in the six EU countries is still below 55%.

Austria confirmed on Tuesday that it will end the nationwide lockdown of people who have been vaccinated with Covid-19 or who have recovered from the virus this weekend, while continuing to restrict participation in public life for those who refuse to be vaccinated.

Poland switched to online education during the extended holiday on Tuesday, and required medical staff and teachers to be vaccinated.

The Omicron variant has brought wider uncertainty to the African continent, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has warned that it may become the country’s main strain within a few weeks.

Complete News Source : Hindustan times