This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60245273
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Europe entering Covid pandemic 'ceasefire', says WHO | Europe entering Covid pandemic 'ceasefire', says WHO |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The comments come as Sweden's prime minister (pictured) announced the ending of restrictions | The comments come as Sweden's prime minister (pictured) announced the ending of restrictions |
| The World Health Organization's (WHO) Europe director says the continent could soon enter a "long period of tranquillity" in the Covid-19 pandemic. | The World Health Organization's (WHO) Europe director says the continent could soon enter a "long period of tranquillity" in the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| Dr Hans Kluge cited high vaccination rates, the end of winter and the less severe nature of the Omicron variant. | Dr Hans Kluge cited high vaccination rates, the end of winter and the less severe nature of the Omicron variant. |
| Speaking to reporters, he said: "This period of higher protection should be seen as a 'ceasefire' that could bring us enduring peace." | Speaking to reporters, he said: "This period of higher protection should be seen as a 'ceasefire' that could bring us enduring peace." |
| It comes as a number of European nations end Covid-19 restrictions. | It comes as a number of European nations end Covid-19 restrictions. |
| Dr Kluge said some 12 million new virus cases were detected across Europe last week - the highest recorded - but officials have not seen a significant spike in those needing critical hospital care. | |
| Denmark became the first nation in the European Union to lift all rules, including the wearing of face masks, earlier this week. | Denmark became the first nation in the European Union to lift all rules, including the wearing of face masks, earlier this week. |
| While cases are still relatively high there, the authorities say the virus no longer qualifies as a "critical threat" with high vaccination rates helping to protect against serious illness despite the rapid spread of Omicron. | While cases are still relatively high there, the authorities say the virus no longer qualifies as a "critical threat" with high vaccination rates helping to protect against serious illness despite the rapid spread of Omicron. |
| Norway has since announced its own relaxation, and Sweden announced on Thursday it would also lift almost all of its own domestic restrictions on 9 February. | Norway has since announced its own relaxation, and Sweden announced on Thursday it would also lift almost all of its own domestic restrictions on 9 February. |
| "The pandemic is not over, but we are entering a whole new phase," Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters. | "The pandemic is not over, but we are entering a whole new phase," Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters. |
| Officials there vowed to remain "vigilant" against the virus, with some guidance remaining in place, such as staying home if you have Covid-19 symptoms. Unvaccinated people are also urged to avoid crowds, and some border entry restrictions are still in place. | Officials there vowed to remain "vigilant" against the virus, with some guidance remaining in place, such as staying home if you have Covid-19 symptoms. Unvaccinated people are also urged to avoid crowds, and some border entry restrictions are still in place. |
| CONTEXT: Tracking the global outbreak | CONTEXT: Tracking the global outbreak |
| EXPLAINED: How fast is vaccine progress around world? | EXPLAINED: How fast is vaccine progress around world? |
| Dr Kluge from the WHO on Thursday urged European nations to continue with their vaccination campaigns and surveillance of strains, despite his talk of a "ceasefire". | Dr Kluge from the WHO on Thursday urged European nations to continue with their vaccination campaigns and surveillance of strains, despite his talk of a "ceasefire". |
| But he said he was confident the continent would be in a "better position... even with a more virulent variant" than Omicron. | But he said he was confident the continent would be in a "better position... even with a more virulent variant" than Omicron. |
| "I believe that it is possible to respond to new variants that will inevitably emerge without re-installing the kind of disruptive measures we needed before," Dr Kluge added. | "I believe that it is possible to respond to new variants that will inevitably emerge without re-installing the kind of disruptive measures we needed before," Dr Kluge added. |
| He urged individual responsibility, further protection of at-risk groups and what he described as a "drastic and uncompromising increase in vaccine sharing across borders" to help protection worldwide. | |
| The easing of restrictions across Europe follows similar decisions in England and other UK nations in January. | The easing of restrictions across Europe follows similar decisions in England and other UK nations in January. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Have a look at how Beijing is preparing for the Games - with a sealed off area to keep Covid out | Have a look at how Beijing is preparing for the Games - with a sealed off area to keep Covid out |