Without Strict Restrictions, 500,000 Will Die from COVID-19 in Europe, WHO Warns

During the winter months, approximately 500,000 people will die in Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic if countries in the region do not tighten restrictions, the World Health Organization's European Office Director Hans Kluge stated in an interview with the BBC on Saturday, as reported by TASS.

According to him, the WHO is "very concerned" about the accelerating spread of COVID-19 in Europe, which has prompted experts to recommend the continued wearing of medical masks and vaccination for those who have not yet been vaccinated. Kluge argued that a new wave of the coronavirus in Europe will be observed this winter due to cold weather, low vaccination rates in several countries, and the emergence of more infectious variants.

“COVID-19 has again become the leading cause of death in our region,” he emphasized, adding that mandatory vaccination should only be viewed as a last resort in the fight against the pandemic. At the same time, Kluge noted that it would be beneficial to initiate legislative and public discussions on this issue. “Before moving to mandatory vaccination, other tools should be considered, like COVID passes, which do not limit freedom at all but rather help preserve it,” he stated.

In recent days, several European countries have been forced to tighten anti-coronavirus restrictions amid a sharp increase in cases. They hope to encourage the population to participate more actively in vaccination campaigns to achieve collective immunity more quickly. Specifically, Austria will impose a nationwide lockdown starting November 22, while Denmark has reintroduced COVID passes, which are mandatory for visiting cinemas, nightclubs, and restaurants, as well as for attending events with more than 2,000 participants.