Europe has exceeded one million deaths from the coronavirus and the situation remains “dire” on the continent, with about 1.6 million new cases reported each week, a senior World Health Organization official said on Thursday.
EVERY WEEK MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION NEW CASES ARE REPORTED
A count by Johns Hopkins University indicates that the pandemic has caused more than three million deaths worldwide, with America as the worst hit region, followed by Europe.
The United States, Brazil and Mexico are the countries with the most deaths, more than 1.1 million among the three.
Addressing recent concerns about vaccines, Dr. Hans Kluge explained that the risk of thrombi and clotting problems is significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in those immunized with the AstraZeneca drug.
During his visit to Greece, Kluge told reporters that there are the “first indications that infections may be decreasing in several countries” and cited the “decline in incidence” among older people.
The proportion of deaths from COVID-19 among those over 80 years of age, who have had priority when receiving the vaccine, fell to almost 30%, the lowest level since the start of the pandemic, he said.
A doctor emphasizes the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine in children.
“For now, the risk of thrombi is much higher for someone with COVID-19 than for someone who has received the AstraZeneca vaccine,” he said.
“Let there be no doubt about it, the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and preventing deaths,” he added, noting that the WHO recommends its use in all eligible adults.