(ConservativeStar.com) – The number of active COVID-19 cases has steadily risen across Europe, according to The World Health Organization (WHO). The agency says it’s the only region with increased virus infections for five straight weeks as of October 31.
Newsweek reported Europe recorded 192 new cases per 100,000 people as of the end of October – a 6% increase – while the rest of the world recorded stagnant or declining infection numbers.
LIVE: WHO says global COVID cases are rising for the first time in two months, driven by Europe https://t.co/A13hIp5XZF
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 28, 2021
During a live Q&A on the organization’s social media channel, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s health emergency program, said the spike of Europe’s news cases is attributed to neighboring countries like Hungary, Czechia, and Poland. Dr. Ryan stated the healthcare systems in these countries have limited availability of equipment and medical professionals along with no real COVID-19 preventive measures.
The Robert Koch Institute, a German government agency responsible for disease control, said it expected the rise in numbers “because not enough people are vaccinated and because measures are no longer being implemented sufficiently.”
According to the institute, Germany reported over 28,000 new cases as of October 28. The WHO reported an 8% rise in COVID-19 deaths as more patients pour into intensive care units.
Scientists in Europe also worry that many more could fall ill from waning immunity from vaccinations during the winter season. According to the WHO, the Delta variant remains the most widely spread, with 99% of COVID-19 samples collected by an international database.
Currently, 100 new cases per 100,000 Americans have been reported in the US as of November 2, while 3 million cases were reported globally.
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