In recent weeks, several European countries have reported an increase in positive cases of Sars-CoV-2, with what has been defined as a real summer wave of Covid. The percentage of patients with respiratory diseases who test positive for coronavirus is quintupled in the last eight weeksand the number of hospital admissions is also growing.
Although the overall number of cases is lower than during the winter wave that peaked in December 2023, Covid infections on the continent are still causing hospitalizations and deaths during the summer.
WHO recommendations on wearing masks
The picture was outlined by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. For this reason, the WHO once again recommends the use of mask in high-risk situations.”
To reduce the chances of infection, especially now that Covid is on the rise, it is recommended to use masks in closed and crowded spaces. A disposable mask such as the N95″, equivalent to the Ffp2 in terms of filtering capacity, “it offers the best protection”.
“If you have to interact with someone who has Covid, whether a family member or another person, the use of a mask becomes particularly important,” underlines the WHO.
Why Covid Cases Are Rising This Summer
But how can we explain the increases in recent weeks? There are several factors, such as the travel for holidaysmass events such as the Olympics, where more than 40 positive cases were recorded among athletes, and less competition from respiratory diseases such as influenza.
Unlike seasonal influenza, WHO Europe continues, “Covid-19 circulates all year round. Until this pattern changes, the area could experience more waves every yeara situation that puts strain on health systems and increases the likelihood that people, especially the most fragile, will get sick.”
In case of symptoms, such as fever, cough, fatigue or shortness of breathyou should get a Covid test, if available, to confirm whether you have the infection and to understand the level of risk to yourself and others. Finally, if you are at high risk of serious outcomes from Covid, you may be eligible for antiviral drugs.
What are the most common Sars-Cov-2 variants today?
During the 2024 summer wave of Covid-19 in Europe, the predominant variants are JN.1 and its descendants, including KP.2 and KP.3, known as Flirt variants.
Currently the most common one in Europe is KP.3.1.1a “daughter” of KP.3, which represents nearly a quarter of the viruses sequenced on the continent. This variant has been identified in several European countries, including Italy, France, Spain and United Kingdom.
“Having high-quality surveillance is essential so that public health authorities can take rapid and decisive action to protect populations from potentially more virulent strains of the disease,” specifies the WHO.
Vaccines in Europe have saved 1.6 million lives
The updated Covid vaccine continues to be a very effective tool for reducing hospitalizations and deaths among high-risk people, such as the elderly, immunosuppressed, people with pre-existing conditions, pregnant women, and healthcare workers exposed to the virus.
Again according to WHO Europe, from December 2020 to March 2023 the Covid vaccines have reduced pandemic deaths by at least 59%, saving over 1.6 million lives in Europe. The study shows that the current number of Covid victims in the region, at 2.2 million, would have risen to 4 million without vaccines.
Most of the lives saved involved people aged 60 years or older, the group with the highest risk of severe disease and death from Sars-CoV-2. The study’s author, Margaux Meslé, an expert at WHO Europe, stressed that “the results are clear: vaccination against Covid saves lives”.
