WHO Warns of Delta Variant Surge in Europe

The head of the World Health Organization's Europe office says a 10-week drop in COVID-19 cases in the region has ended, and warned that a new wave could loom unless people "remain disciplined" and more people get vaccinated.

Dr. Hans Kluge on Thursday cited a 10% increase in infection numbers over the last week because of "increased mixing, travel, gatherings, and easing of social restrictions." He cautioned that the highly transmissible delta variant is on track to be the dominant one by August in the 53-country region.

Some 63 percent of people in the region haven't had a first vaccine jab, he said.

"The three conditions for a new wave of excess hospitalizations and deaths before the autumn are therefore in place: New variants, deficit in vaccine uptake, increased social mixing," he told reporters from Copenhagen, Denmark.

"There will be a new wave in the WHO European region unless we remain disciplined, and even more so when there is much less rules in place to follow, and unless we all take the vaccine without hesitating when it is our turn," he added.

Kluge said people who want to travel and gather over the summer should continue "life-saving reflexes" like wearing masks. WHO Europe says people should make sure they get both doses of double-jab vaccines for maximum effectiveness.

Dr. Catherine Smallwood, senior emergency officer at WHO Europe, warned governments not to lift social distancing measures amid increased transmission. She said any such lifting should be accompanied by stronger public-health measures; sharing and sequencing information on new variants; testing; and reinforcing contact tracing.