Amid a tripling of new COVID-19 cases in the past six weeks, the EU’s Health Commissioner called on member states to step up preventative public health measures in preparation for colder months, in a letter obtained by EURACTIV dated Monday (18 July).

Highlighting that the pandemic is not over, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides urged in the letter that it is “crucial” to maintain “close vigilance” and continue with the implementation of the actions recommended by the Commission last April.

The EU’s infectious disease agency (ECDC) warned on Monday that COVID-19 cases in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) have been increasing for the past five weeks, signalling the start of a widespread wave driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of concern.

“As our citizens are enjoying a well-deserved summer period without the health restrictions of the last two years, we must continue our joint efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic by planning and looking ahead to be prepared for the upcoming autumn and winter season,” Kyriakides stressed in the letter.

On Tuesday, Hans Kluge, director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe, confirmed in a statement that the European region has seen a tripling of new COVID-19 cases over the past six weeks, with close to three million new cases reported last week, accounting for nearly half of all new cases globally.

“As infection rates in older groups continue to rise, Europe is still seeing close to 3,000 people die of COVID-19 every week,” he added.

Rapidly escalating COVID-19 cases amid reduced virus surveillance forecast challenging autumn and winter in the European Region, WHO warned. “My message to governments and health authorities is to act now to prepare for the coming months,” Kluge said.

Source: Euractiv.com