Europe: 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 remain insufficient to halt the pandemic. To curb the spread of the virus, European governments have implemented a variety of strategies, including lockdowns for the unvaccinated and early restaurant and bar closings. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s head, Andrea Ammon, claimed the number is still rising.
According to the ECDC, at least 274 omicron cases have been reported in 19 European countries. There haven’t been any reports of serious sickness or death, according to the FDA, but it’s still too early to make any conclusions. Six EU countries, according to EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides, still have total vaccination rates below 55%. Austria stated on Tuesday that a statewide lockdown would end this weekend for persons who have been immunised 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 vacation break on Tuesday, and health-care personnel and teachers were required to get 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 nation within weeks.