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WHO Warns European Countries To Get Ready For ‘Tough Season Ahead’

© AFP 2023 / JOHN THYSA man wears a face mask as he walks past a sign reading 'wearing a mask is mandatory' on a street in Brussels on 6 November 2020, placed in an attempt to counter the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
A man wears a face mask as he walks past a sign reading 'wearing a mask is mandatory' on a street in Brussels on 6 November 2020, placed in an attempt to counter the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. - Sputnik International
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There have been more than four million COVID-19 cases in the continent of Europe reported to the WHO, accounting for 28% of global cases and 26% of deaths. In the wake of the second coronavirus surge, European countries are facing a spike, imposing lockdowns which are unpopular among citizens.

Europeans must act responsibly and support health and social workers through the tough season ahead, since more than 80 percent of countries have reported 14-day increase rates, with COVID-19 deaths increasing by 18 percent, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge announced during a virtual press briefing.

“Last week, Europe registered over 29 000 new COVID-19 deaths. That’s 1 person dying every 17 seconds in the European Region from COVID-19”, Kluge said.

The UME (Emergency Army Unit) attend the train station in Granada, Spain Tuesday March 17, 2020. Police checked passports and IDs at the Pyrenees' border with France and along the 1,200 kilometer shared border with Portugal, as Spain re-established controls for incoming and outgoing travellers to stem the new COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. - Sputnik International
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The WHO Regional director suggested that wearing a mask was by no means a panacea for the coronavirus, but if at least 95 percent of the population wore masks, there would have been a chance of avoiding introducing lockdowns. Since mask use was only 60 percent, lockdowns were considered essential in light of recent circumstances.

Kluge acknowledged that "hundreds of millions of people" face certain hardships while living through the lockdown, and requested improved economic support for people who had been affected, including those who had lost their job.  

“There is significant collateral damage associated with lockdowns, including increased mental-health issues, alcohol and substance abuse,”  he added.

According to the WHO official, controlling super-spread events - as well as enabling the authorities to monitor high-risk situations through targeted testing and surveillance - are also essential for protecting the elderly, the vulnerable and children.

Europe’s second COVID-19 wave forced certain governments to introduce lockdowns, imposing new restrictions, thereby causing discontent among the citizens. Earlier this week, people gathered near the Bundestag in Berlin and protested against the government’s plan to impose new restrictions. On 5 November, 104 people were arrested during an anti-lockdown protest in London.

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