GENEVA (AP) – A senior World Health Organization official says Europe has more than a million deaths from COVID-19 and the situation remains “serious”, with approximately 1.6 million new cases reported each week in the region.
Dr. Hans Kluge’s comments on Thursday were aimed at emphasizing that Europe must maintain its protection with social distancing and speed up vaccinations, as virus variants bring new infections to record levels in some nations.
Overall, a Johns Hopkins University count shows that nearly 3 million deaths have been related to COVID-19 worldwide, with the Americas most affected, followed by Europe. The United States, Brazil and Mexico have recorded the highest number of deaths, collectively exceeding 1.1 million.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Greece, Kluge noted “the first signs that transmission may be declining in several countries” in the WHO’s 53-country European region, which stretches across Central Asia. and cited the “decreased incidence” among older people.
He said the proportion of deaths from COVID-19 among people over the age of 80, who have been prioritized for vaccines, has dropped to nearly 30%, the lowest level of the pandemic.
Britain, in particular, has seen new infections and deaths from COVID-19 fall sharply since January, due to a successful vaccination program and a prolonged national closure that is only reversed in stages.
Addressing recent concerns about vaccines, Kluge also said the risk of people getting blood clots is much higher for people with COVID-19 than for people getting the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
“There is no doubt, the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective in reducing hospitalization for COVID-19 and preventing deaths,” he said, adding that the WHO recommends its use for all eligible adults.
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