October, November to be 'tougher' with more coronavirus deaths - WHO Europe

The World Health Organization expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body's European branch has said.


"It's going to get tougher. In October, November, we are going to see more mortality," WHO Europe director Hans Kluge said, as the continent currently experiences a surge of cases though the number of deaths has remained relatively stable.

The resurgence is, however, expected to lead to an increase in daily deaths, the WHO said.

Mr Kluge's comments come as the WHO has reported nearly 308,000 new cases over the past 24 hours.

"It's a moment where countries don't want to hear this bad news, and I understand," Mr Kluge told AFP in an interview, stressing that he wanted to send the "positive message" that the pandemic "is going to finish, at one moment or another".

The WHO Europe's 55 member states are holding an online meeting today and tomorrow to discuss their response to the new coronavirus and agree on their overall five-year strategy.

However, Mr Kluge, based in Copenhagen, raised a warning finger to those who believe that the development of a vaccine will bring an end to the pandemic.

"I hear the whole time: 'the vaccine is going to be the end of the pandemic'. Of course not!," the Belgian said.

"We don't even know if the vaccine is going to help all population groups. We are getting some signs now that it will help for one group and not for the other," he said.

"And then if we have to order different vaccines, what a logistical nightmare!"

"The end of the pandemic is the moment that we as a community are going to learn how to live with this pandemic. And it depends on us and that's a very positive message," he said...
  (RTE)