The director of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe, Hans Kluge, believes that the high contamination by the Ómicron variant, combined with the high vaccination rate, will lead to a general immunity that, in turn, could mean the end of the pandemic. . Although the number of cases continues to increase, several European countries, such as France, the United Kingdom and Denmark, are announcing an easing of restrictions.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe recorded, on January 19, 1.6 million cases of covid-19 – a record since the beginning of the pandemic.
The director of WHO Europe, Hans Kluge, even considers that by March, 60 percent of Europeans could be infected by the new and more transmissible Ómicron variant.
This high rate of infection could mean the end of the pandemic in Europe. “It is plausible that the region is heading towards the end of the pandemic, not of covid-19, but of the pandemic”, said the WHO’s main official in Europe.
“Although Ómicron persists for weeks to months, we are aiming for global immunity, either through vaccination, or people’s immunity through infection, in addition to a break because of seasonality,” explained Kluge.
“We anticipate that there will be a quiet period before Covid-19 returns at the end of the year, which does not necessarily mean the pandemic is back,” Kluge added.
Kluge acknowledges, however, that the endemic stage has not yet been reached and urges caution. “Endemic means (…) that we can predict what will happen. This virus has surprised us more than once. We must therefore be very careful”, insisted the WHO official in Europe.
Faced with the recent increase in cases of contamination, Kluge believes that health policies should now focus on “minimizing disruption and protecting vulnerable people”, rather than seeking to reduce the intensity of transmission of the virus.
Several European countries ease restrictions
Despite the increase in the number of cases due to the Ómicron variant, several European countries are easing the restrictions imposed at Christmas, whether due to a drop in incidence, a decrease in hospitalizations due to vaccination or simply a change in strategy.
In France, for example, despite having registered more than 400,000 daily cases last week, the authorities say that the epidemiological situation is evolving favorably.
In this way, a gradual easing of restrictions was announced from 2 February. Stadiums and cultural centers will be able to reopen without limits to the capacity, as long as the public remains seated; teleworking is no longer mandatory and the use of a mask will no longer be required abroad.
The remaining restrictions will be eased as of February 16, with the opening of nightclubs, the resumption of shows with a standing audience and the possibility of consuming food or drinks at sporting events, cinemas and public transport.
From this Monday, the vaccination pass also comes into force, which replaces the health pass. In this way, access to bars, restaurants, museums or inter-regional public transport (such as planes, trains or buses) is only allowed for people over 16 years of age upon presentation of proof of vaccination status against covid-19, leaving that a negative test is sufficient.
In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced last week an easing of restrictions – partly as a way of redeeming himself and trying to regain the trust of his party members at a time when his name is tarnished. for the various controversies in which he is involved and his mandate is at risk.
Boris Johnson decreed that as of next Wednesday, February 26, restrictions imposed at the end of last year to control the Ómicron variant will be lifted. The use of a mask is no longer mandatory, teleworking is no longer advised and the sanitary pass is no longer mandatory in public places, such as theaters or concert halls and football stadiums.
In the Netherlands, schools and universities, gyms and hairdressers, which had been closed since mid-December, were able to reopen their doors on January 15th. The Government, however, keeps the hotel, catering and culture sectors closed. The restaurant sector finds these rules incomprehensible and is pressing the Government for a relaxation of the measures from 26 or 29 January.
In Denmark, although infection records continue to be recorded due to the rapid spread of the Ómicron variant, the Government has given the green light to the reopening of the cultural sector, which has been closed since mid-December. Cinemas, concert halls, theaters and cultural centers can open with a limit of up to 500 seated spectators, and the mask remains mandatory, as well as the presentation of the covid passport. Nightclubs and bars remain closed until at least the end of January, and restaurants cannot serve alcohol after 10pm and must close one hour later.
By RTP News
