WHO warns of COVID-19 Europe deaths

Germany has recorded almost 34,000 daily Covid cases in the past 24 hours, its highest number so far, in what the health minister is calling a “massive pandemic of the unvaccinated”.

Sixteen million Germans have not had a jab. However hospital intensive care cases are still lower than in spring.

The World Health Organization(WHO) has warned of a possible half a million more deaths in Europe by February.

Europe head Hans Kluge blamed insufficient vaccine take-up.

He said a relaxation of public health measures was also behind the rise in Covid cases in the WHO’s European region, which covers 53 countries including parts of Central Asia. So far the WHO has recorded 1.4m deaths across the region.

While the Covid numbers in Germany are still well below the UK’s average daily case numbers of more than 41,000, public health officials there are worried that a fourth wave of infection could lead to a large number of deaths and pressure on the health system.

In the past 24 hours 165 deaths have been recorded, up from 126 a week ago.

Lothar Wieler of Germany’s RKI institute spoke of terrifying numbers.

“If we don’t take counter-measures now, this fourth wave will bring yet more suffering,” he said.

Among the many Germans who have not been vaccinated are more than three million over-60s, seen at particular risk.

German restaurants and cafes require people to have proof of vaccination or recovery before entry, or in many cases a negative test, but the rules are not always applied.

Health Minister Jens Spahn said he had been asked more times for his vaccination certificate in one day in Rome at the weekend than he had been over four weeks in Germany.

But as Hans Kluge points out, the surge in cases is not confined to Germany.

Russia and Ukraine have seen the most dramatic rises in infections and deaths.

There have been protests and complaints of restricted freedom, but much of Europe is now using Covid passports to enter bars, restaurants, cinemas and museums.

Italy also requires a Covid pass to enter a workplace and Austria is about to follow suit.

Although England does not require a pass, from Friday, the UK’s digital Covid pass will be accepted across the European Union.-BBC