Europe will face a new wave of COVID infection in the autumn, the World Health Organization has warned.
The BA.2 and BA.5 sub-lineages of Omicron have shown clear transmission advantages and are driving increases in hospitalisation rates, according to Dr Hans Henri Kluge, WHO’s European regional director.
The likelihood of an autumn and winter resurgence presents a “huge challenge” to health care workers in many countries, he said.
He warned: “With rising cases we’re also seeing a rise in hospitalisations, which are only set to increase further in the autumn and winter months as schools re-open, people return from holidays, and social mixing moves indoors with the onset of colder weather.”
He said new COVID cases have trebled across Europe in six weeks – with nearly three million new cases of infection last week, representing half of those reported globally.
Nearly 3,000 people a week are dying with the infection, he reported
WHO called on countries to plan to step up efforts to restrain the virus, promoting mask-wearing indoors and on public transport.
Crowded and public spaces should be ventilated while vaccine uptake should be increased.
Infection control practices should be strengthened in all healthcare and care settings, WHO said.
Dr Kluge said: “COVID-19 remains a nasty and potentially deadly illness. Just two weeks ago, I was struck down with the virus for the first time, and it knocked me off my feet. I spent three awful days and nights with high fever, shivers, and shortness of breath. I can only imagine how bad it would have been had I not been fully vaccinated and received my additional dose.
“Repeated infections with SARS-CoV-2 are occurring due to the continued evolution of the virus, and each new infection could lead to long COVID. In the United Kingdom alone, for example, an estimated two million people – 3% of the population – suffer from long COVID. Much more needs to be done to establish best practices for the detection, treatment, and rehabilitation of long COVID patients.”
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