Is Omicron the 'logical' end to the pandemic in Europe?
On January 23, Hans Kluge, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe, predicted that the Omicron variant could infect 60% of the European population by March. This marks the beginning of a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and could potentially bring the pandemic closer to its end.
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| Microscopic images provided by the U.S. National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Allergies show the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a sample from a COVID-19 patient in the United States. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
According to a TTXVN correspondent in Brussels, Hans Kluge stated that the nearing end of the pandemic in Europe is justified, while also urging caution due to the virus's variability. He estimated: "Once the Omicron wave subsides, in a few weeks and months there will likely be general immunity, either from vaccination or from people getting sick, also because the disease declines seasonally." However, the WHO official said, "We are not in an endemic phase to predict what will happen because this virus has surprised us many times."
According to WHO data, in the region encompassing 53 countries, some of which are located in Central Asia (according to WHO regional divisions), the Omicron variant accounted for 15% of new COVID-19 cases as of January 18th, more than half the rate from the previous week. In the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), this variant emerged in late November 2021, is more contagious than the Delta variant, and currently accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases.
Hans Kluge argues that, with the surge in cases, the current issue is "minimizing disruption and protecting vulnerable people," and no longer focusing solely on reducing transmission.
