WHO warns new COVID wave inevitable in Europe as cases rise by 10 percent

COVID-19 infections have risen by 10% in a week in Europe after two months in decline and the risk of a new wave of cases is growing. This was informed by the World Health Organization.

Regional director Hans Kluge said the risk had been heightened by sluggish vaccine rollouts, new variants and increased social mixing. There was also a danger that Euro 2020 could act as a super-spreader. Hundreds of fans returning from London and St Petersburg have tested positive.

WHO senior emergency officer Catherine Smallwood called on host cities to do more to monitor the movement of fans.

Russia has seen record numbers of deaths for the past three days, with 672 fatalities and 23,543 new cases reported yesterday alone. Most of the new cases in Moscow are of the Delta variant, and top health officials are also talking of a new Delta-plus variant.

Euro 2020 host city St Petersburg recorded 115 deaths in the past 24 hours yesterday, on the eve of its sixth and last tournament match between Spain and Switzerland.