“Alarming Rates Of Transmission Of Virus In Europe”: WHO

WHO warns of “alarming rates of transmission” of virus in Europe. (Representational)

Copenhagen, Denmark:

The World Health Organization warned Thursday of “alarming rates of transmission” of Covid-19 throughout Europe and cautioned international locations in opposition to shortening quarantine intervals.

The WHO’s regional director for Europe Hans Kluge mentioned the variety of coronavirus instances seen in September “should serve as a wake-up call for all of us.”

“Although these numbers reflect more comprehensive testing, it also shows alarming rates of transmission across the region,” he instructed a web-based press convention from Danish capital Copenhagen.

The well being physique additionally mentioned it might not change its steering calling for a 14-day quarantine interval for anybody uncovered to the novel coronavirus.

“Our quarantine recommendation of 14 days has been based on our understanding of the incubation period and transmission of the disease. We would only revise that on the basis of a change of our understanding of the science,” WHO Europe’s senior emergency officer Catherine Smallwood mentioned.

In France as an example, the really helpful size for self-isolation in case of publicity has been lowered to seven days.

It is 10 days within the UK and Ireland, and several other extra European international locations, similar to Portugal and Croatia, are at the moment contemplating lowering their suggestions.

“Knowing the immense individual and societal impact even a slight reduction in the length of quarantine can have… I encourage countries of the region to make scientific due process with their experts and explore safe reduction options,” Kluge mentioned, including that the “concept of quarantine must be protected” and “continuously adapted.”

The 53 member states of WHO Europe have recorded practically 5 million instances of Covid-19 and greater than 227,000 associated deaths, in line with the organisation’s personal figures.

The variety of every day instances recorded is at the moment between 40,000 and 50,000, akin to a every day peak of 43,000 on April 1 — though testing in lots of international locations has elevated significantly.

A brand new document was set on September 11, with some 54,000 instances recorded in 24 hours.

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