January 11, 2022
1 min read

7 million cases: Omicron moves fast in Europe

Kluge warned that there is now a “closing window of opportunity” for countries to prevent their health systems from being overwhelmed….reports Asian Lite News

There were more than seven million new cases of the Omicron variant across Europe in the first week of January, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.

According to Hans Kluge, WHO Europe Director, 26 countries in the region reported that more than 1 per cent of their populations are being infected with Covid each week, The Telegraph reported.

Kluge warned that there is now a “closing window of opportunity” for countries to prevent their health systems from being overwhelmed.

He cited estimates from the Institute of Health Metrics at the University of Washington which projected that half of the population in Western Europe will be infected with Covid in the next six to eight weeks.

“Omicron moves faster and wider than any (previous) variants we have seen,” he was quoted as saying at a media briefing.

Kluge also called for countries to mandate the use of masks indoors and to prioritise vaccination, including booster dose of at-risk population, including health workers and elderly people.

Further, he said that as Omicron moves east across the European continent, the variant will take a much higher toll on countries with lower vaccination coverage rates.

Covid hospitalisation rate, in Denmark, was six times higher in people who weren’t vaccinated compared to those who had been immunised, Kluge noted.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had previously pleaded with the rich countries not to offer booster doses and to donate them instead to poorer countries where vulnerable groups are yet to be immunised.

“No country can boost its way out of the pandemic,” he said, adding that the current vaccines “remain effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants”.

ALSO READ: Bennett warns 2-4 million Israelis are infected with Covid amid Omicron

Previous Story

BJP to contest on 80 seats in Punjab

Next Story

BD marks 100th anniversary of first insulin injection

Latest from -Top News

India, UK Cement Strategic Ties

Oliver Robbins met Vikram Misri in New Delhi for UK–India talks reviewing their strategic partnership….reports Asian Lite News Oliver Robbins, Permanent Under-Secretary at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), met

India, Malaysia Stand Together on Terror

The Speaker reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to peace and thanked the Indian delegation for the briefing on India’s approach to dealing with terrorism at large…reports Asian Lite News An all-party Indian delegation met

Don’t Let Bailout Back Terror, Tharoor Warns IMF

Tharoor expressed his displeasure at the International Monetary Fund for enabling Pakistan thus as they divert those funds to arm themselves to attack India….reports Asian Lite News All-Party Delegation leader and Congress

India Doubles Down on BRICS at Brazil Talks

The BRICS Communications Ministers met in Brasilia under the Chair of Brazil on June 2, and conducted discussions on universal and meaningful connectivity…reports Asian Lite News India reiterated its commitment to enduring
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India’s Omicron tally mounts to 49

“Of the 6 cases, 1 patient has been discharged from

ICMR team designs kit to detect Omicron variant in 2 hours

The kit is now being produced on a bulk basis