the rise of coronavirus cases in china should not affect europe in a “significant” way, since the variants circulating in that country are already on the continentas reported on Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and collect EFE. “We share the vision of the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) that the current outbreak in China is not expected to have a significant impact on the epidemiological situation of covid in the European region at this time,” WHO director for Europe Hans Kluge said at a press conference.
The ECDC, the European Union’s reference body for epidemics, had ruled out at the end of last December that the rise in cases in China could be a “challenge” for the continent, alluding to the characteristics of the variants already high immunity and vaccination rates.
Kluge stressed, however, that “detailed and regular” information is necessary, especially on local epidemics and variants, in order to better determine the evolution of the situation. The head of the European region -which includes 53 countries on that continent and Central Asia- has acknowledged that China has shared data on genomic sequencing and hospitalization at various levels and has expressed confidence that more information will arrive, which It will help increase public confidence.
the adoption of safety measuresespecially to the trips, that some countries have taken to protect their populations are not “unreasonable”, Kluge has pointed out, although he has emphasized that they must be based on science, be “proportionate” and “non-discriminatory”.
However, Kluge has urged not to be “complacent” and has considered it necessary to “anticipate, detect and respond” in time so as not to put more pressure on exhausted healthcare systems after three years of pandemic. It has also called for reinvestment in genomic surveillance, including wastewater monitoring, and in protecting healthcare workers. Increasing vaccination of the population, administering additional doses to priority groups, promoting the use of masks indoors and on public transport and ventilating crowded spaces are some of the recommendations of the WHO, who recalls that they have been “very effective”.
