WHO warns Europe – expect a rise in Covid-19 deaths in October and November
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned Europe that there is likely to be a rise in daily Covid-19 deaths in October and November.
“It’s going to get tougher. In October, November, we are going to see more mortality,” WHO Europe director Hans Kluge said, as Europe currently experiences a rise in cases — though the number of deaths has remained relatively stable.
The WHO says the resurgence is expected to lead to an increase in daily deaths.
“It’s a moment where countries don’t want to hear this bad news, and I understand,” Kluge told AFP in an interview, stressing that he wanted to send the “positive message” that the pandemic “is going to finish, at one moment or another.”
The WHO Europe’s 55 member states are holding an online meeting on Monday and Tuesday to discuss their response to the pandemic and agree on their over-all five-year strategy.
Kluge also had a warning to those who believe a vaccine will end the pandemic.
“I hear the whole time: ‘the vaccine is going to be the end of the pandemic’. Of course not!,” he said.
“We don’t even know if the vaccine is going to help all population groups. We are getting some signs now that it will help for one group and not for the other,” he said.
“And then if we have to order different vaccines, what a logistical nightmare!”
“The end of the pandemic is the moment that we as a community are going to learn how to live with this pandemic. And it depends on us and that’s a very positive message,” he said.
Europe has seen a sharp rise in the number of cases in recent weeks, especially in France and Spain. On Friday, more than 51,000 new cases were reported in the 55 countries of the WHO Europe, which is more than the highest peak in April, according to the WHO.
However, WHO data shows the number of daily deaths has remained at the same level since early June – with around 400-500 deaths per day linked to the coronavirus.
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