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Healthcare systems could be “pushed to the brink” in Europe following the first continent-wide rise in coronavirus cases in months, a top World Health Organisation official has warned.
Regional director Dr Hans Kluge said that there have been “very significant resurgences” in coronavirus infections in 11 European countries, which he did not name.
Dr Kluge told reporters in a virtual press conference: “For weeks, I have spoken about the risk of resurgence as countries adjust measures.”
“In several countries across Europe, this risk has now become a reality — 30 countries have seen increases in new cumulative cases over the past two weeks.
“In 11 of these countries, accelerated transmission has led to very significant resurgence that if left unchecked will push health systems to the brink once again.”
WHO figures show the European region recording 20,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 700 deaths linked to the virus each day.
The region covers 54 countries, including the Middle East and Central Asia. More than 2.6 million infections have been reported overall, with around 195,000 deaths.
Europe starts to ease itself out of Coronavirus lockdown
1/21
Commuters sit in a coach at the Cardona underground metro station, with red circles on the ground indicating where to stand to maintain distance in mILAN
AFP via Getty Images
2/21
People walk on a street of the Balearic island of Formentera which will begin from Monday (May 4) de-escalation stage where outdoor areas of bars and restaurants can open at half occupancy, while groups of up to 10 people will be allowed in public places and in homes, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on the island of Formentera, Spain
Reuters
3/21
A thermal camera (Top L) scans the body temperature of commuters arriving from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
4/21
Students arrive to the Akademisches Gymnasium high school in Vienna on the day of the reopening of high schools in the country after more than a month of closure due to the new coronavirus pandemic
AFP via Getty Images
5/21
Olga Prades helps bride Isabel Jimenez try on a wedding dress, as they both wear protection masks and gloves, at her bridal shop Innovias, on the first day that some small businesses are allowed to open during lockdown amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain
Reuters
6/21
Mirel Chetan and Elena Banaseanu clean and disinfect the books of the Antonio Machado bookstore on the first day of attention to the public after 51 days of closure due to the COVID 19 coronavirus on May 04, 2020 in Madrid, Spain
Getty Images
7/21
A mouth mask obligation publicity at Simonis subway station in Brussel
AFP via Getty Images
8/21
A shop assistant attends a client at a camera shop in Barcelona
AFP via Getty Images
9/21
Workers at a hair salon work on customers, all wearing face masks to prevent the spread of new coronavirus in Athens
AP
10/21
A commuter wearing a protective mask waits for a train inside the Nuevos Ministerios metro station, on the first day mask usage is mandatory in public transport, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain
Reuters
11/21
Students Lea Karner and Dorian Di Giorgio arrive to the Akademisches Gymnasium high school on their bicycles in Vienna on the day of the reopening of high schools in the country after more than a month of closure due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
AFP via Getty Images
12/21
Commuters enter the Cardona underground metro station, with the way out clearly marked in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
13/21
Commuters wearing protective face masks exit the metro station on Syntagma square, on the first day of easing of a nationwide lockdown against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Athens, Greece
Reuters
14/21
Workers at a hair salon work on customers, all wearing face masks to prevent the spread of new coronavirus in Athens
AP
15/21
Commuters arrive from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in miLAN
AFP via Getty Images
16/21
Commuters wearing protective face masks leave the platforms of the metro station on Syntagma square, on the first day of easing of a nationwide lockdown against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Athens, Greece,
Reuters
17/21
Commuters wearing protective face masks stand on a platform of the metro station on Syntagma square, on the first day of easing of a nationwide lockdown against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Athens, Greece
Reuters
18/21
Travellers wait for a train at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
19/21
Commuters exit a coach at the Cardona underground metro station, with red circles on the ground indicating where to stand to maintain distance in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
20/21
Commuters arrive from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
21/21
Commuters arrive from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
1/21
Commuters sit in a coach at the Cardona underground metro station, with red circles on the ground indicating where to stand to maintain distance in mILAN
AFP via Getty Images
2/21
People walk on a street of the Balearic island of Formentera which will begin from Monday (May 4) de-escalation stage where outdoor areas of bars and restaurants can open at half occupancy, while groups of up to 10 people will be allowed in public places and in homes, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on the island of Formentera, Spain
Reuters
3/21
A thermal camera (Top L) scans the body temperature of commuters arriving from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
4/21
Students arrive to the Akademisches Gymnasium high school in Vienna on the day of the reopening of high schools in the country after more than a month of closure due to the new coronavirus pandemic
AFP via Getty Images
5/21
Olga Prades helps bride Isabel Jimenez try on a wedding dress, as they both wear protection masks and gloves, at her bridal shop Innovias, on the first day that some small businesses are allowed to open during lockdown amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain
Reuters
6/21
Mirel Chetan and Elena Banaseanu clean and disinfect the books of the Antonio Machado bookstore on the first day of attention to the public after 51 days of closure due to the COVID 19 coronavirus on May 04, 2020 in Madrid, Spain
Getty Images
7/21
A mouth mask obligation publicity at Simonis subway station in Brussel
AFP via Getty Images
8/21
A shop assistant attends a client at a camera shop in Barcelona
AFP via Getty Images
9/21
Workers at a hair salon work on customers, all wearing face masks to prevent the spread of new coronavirus in Athens
AP
10/21
A commuter wearing a protective mask waits for a train inside the Nuevos Ministerios metro station, on the first day mask usage is mandatory in public transport, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain
Reuters
11/21
Students Lea Karner and Dorian Di Giorgio arrive to the Akademisches Gymnasium high school on their bicycles in Vienna on the day of the reopening of high schools in the country after more than a month of closure due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
AFP via Getty Images
12/21
Commuters enter the Cardona underground metro station, with the way out clearly marked in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
13/21
Commuters wearing protective face masks exit the metro station on Syntagma square, on the first day of easing of a nationwide lockdown against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Athens, Greece
Reuters
14/21
Workers at a hair salon work on customers, all wearing face masks to prevent the spread of new coronavirus in Athens
AP
15/21
Commuters arrive from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in miLAN
AFP via Getty Images
16/21
Commuters wearing protective face masks leave the platforms of the metro station on Syntagma square, on the first day of easing of a nationwide lockdown against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Athens, Greece,
Reuters
17/21
Commuters wearing protective face masks stand on a platform of the metro station on Syntagma square, on the first day of easing of a nationwide lockdown against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Athens, Greece
Reuters
18/21
Travellers wait for a train at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
19/21
Commuters exit a coach at the Cardona underground metro station, with red circles on the ground indicating where to stand to maintain distance in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
20/21
Commuters arrive from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
21/21
Commuters arrive from regional trains at the Cardona railway station in Milan
AFP via Getty Images
Many European countries have gradually begun lifting lockdown measures over the past two months, while pledging to bring back restrictions if cases spike sharply.
Dr Kluge praised countries like Poland, Germany and Spain for their fast responses to outbreaks linked with schools, coal mines, and food production, which helped bring the new batch of cases under control.
He added that the WHO believes coronavirus infection rates be less high over the summer, but warned that countries should prepare for the virus to bounce back in autumn.
Dr Kruge went on: “We have indeed to prepare for the [autumn], when Covid-19 may meet seasonal influenza, pneumonia, other diseases as well, because ultimately the virus is still actively circulating in our communities and there is no effective treatment, no effective vaccine, yet.
