Geneva-The European Office of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday that children between the ages of 5 and 14 are now the group with the highest reported COVID-19 infection rate in the region.
Dr. Hans Kruger, WHO Regional Director for Europe, also believes that vaccine enforcement should be an “absolute last resort” and stated that the death toll from COVID-19 is “still “significantly lower than the previous peak.” But he said , In 53 countries/regions extending to Central Asia, the number of coronavirus cases and deaths has more than doubled in the past two months.
He emphasized the continuing threat of the widespread delta variant, and pointed out that the new omicron variant has so far caused 432 confirmed cases in 21 countries/regions in the region.
He told reporters at the WHO European headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark: "The delta variant is still dominant in Europe and Central Asia, and we know that the COVID-19 vaccine is still effective in reducing serious illness and death." "The latest COVID It remains to be seen how and whether the -19 variant omicron will spread more easily, or more or less severely."
Kruger urged countries to “protect children and schools” amid the rapid increase in adolescent cases in the region, and stated that in some places, the incidence of COVID-19 among young children is two to three times that of the average population. Compared with more vulnerable groups such as the elderly, health care workers, and people with weakened immune systems, children often face less severe cases.
"As the school holidays approach, we must also admit that children infected their parents and grandparents at home, and these adults have a 10-fold increase in the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, or death without being vaccinated," he said . "The health risks extend beyond the children themselves."
Kruger also opposed compulsory vaccination, saying they should be "absolute last resort" and only effective in certain circumstances.
According to the weekly epidemiological report released by the United Nations health agency last week, the European region of WHO has been the center of the global pandemic for several weeks, accounting for 70% of global cases and 61% of deaths.
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David Keyton of Stockholm and APHA contributed to this report.