According to Hans Kluge, WHO Europe Director, 26 countries in the region reported that more than 1 per cent of their populations are being infected with Covid each week, The Telegraph reported.
Kluge warned that there is now a "closing window of opportunity" for countries to prevent their health systems from being overwhelmed.
He cited estimates from the Institute of Health Metrics at the University of Washington which projected that half of the population in Western Europe will be infected with Covid in the next six to eight weeks.
"Omicron moves faster and wider than any (previous) variants we have seen," he was quoted as saying at a media briefing.
Kluge also called for countries to mandate the use of masks indoors and to prioritise vaccination, including booster dose of at-risk population, including health workers and elderly people.
Further, he said that as Omicron moves east across the European continent, the variant will take a much higher toll on countries with lower vaccination coverage rates.
Covid hospitalisation rate, in Denmark, was six times higher in people who weren't vaccinated compared to those who had been immunised, Kluge noted.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had previously pleaded with the rich countries not to offer booster doses and to donate them instead to poorer countries where vulnerable groups are yet to be immunised.
"No country can boost its way out of the pandemic," he said, adding that the current vaccines "remain effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants".
(IANS)
7 mn Omicron cases detected in Europe last week: WHO
`
- Follow us |
|
|
|
|
7 mn Omicron cases detected in Europe last week: WHO
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
There were more than seven million new cases of the Omicron variant across Europe in the first week of January, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.
Brussels, Jan 11: There were more than seven million new cases of the Omicron variant across Europe in the first week of January, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Slams Unbeaten Ton, Propels India To 222/3 Against Australia In 3rd T20I
Guwahati, Nov 28: Ruturaj Gaikwad's fireworks in the death overs helped India set Australia a daunting target of 222/3 in the third T20I at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Assam on Tuesday.
Gaikwat went unbeaten, showcasing why he is touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket. After operating at a strike rate below 100 initially, the right-hander opened out in the latter half of the Indian innings, going at a strike rate of over 215.
Australian left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff bowled a mean spell at the start of the Indian innings, sending back opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who slammed a quickfire fifty in the previous match, for six.
Behrendorff produced an exceptional opening burst, picking up one wicket at the expense of just five runs.
Right-arm pacer Kane Richardson, too, stifled the Indian run charge and picked up Ishan Kishan for a five-ball duck.
However, Ruturaj and skipper Suryakumar Yadav then came together to stabilise the innings, with the latter going after Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha and Aaron Hardie.
The T20 batting ace brought his 360-degree skills to the fore, accumulating 32 runs in four overs, in the company of Ruturaj.
Ruturaj, who was going at a strike rate below 100 at the time, launched an assault on the Aussie attack, slamming Sangha to the fence.
The skipper, who was going great guns at 39, was sent back by Hardie halfway through the Indian innings.
After the fall of Surya's wicket, Ruturaj put his foot on the pedal and scored at a strike rate of over 185, racing to the nineties in no time.
Tilak Varma, at the other end, gave Ruturaj good company, rotating the strike and also finding the fence at will.
India reached the 150-run mark in the 17th over, with the visitors still in with a chance to keep the hosts to under 200.
However, Hardie's inexperience proved his undoing, as Ruturaj tore into him in the 18th over, smacking him for 25 runs with three sixes and a boundary.
Skipper Matthew Wade's gamble to give Glenn Maxwell the final over didn't pay off either, as Ruturaj completed his ton with a maximum of the first ball of the 20th over.
The opener's fireworks continued thereafter as he stepped out of his crease to send another over to the stands and picked up a third straight six, pulling Maxwell over the square boundary as he dropped short.
Of the final ball, too, he picked up a boundary to propel India's score to 222/3.
Read: Sports News
In the final over of the Indian innings, which was Maxwell's first, he conceded 30 runs.
Brief Scores: India 222/3 (Rutuaj Gaikwad 123(57)*, Suryakumar Yadav 39; Kane Richardson 1-34). (ANI)
Uttarakhand: All 41 Trapped Workers Rescued From Silkyara Tunnel
Uttarkashi, Nov 28: All the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12, have been successfully rescued, offficials said on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met the workers who have been rescued along with Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh.
A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure.
"The exact time of breakthrough was 7:05 pm. Uttarakhand CM, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation Gen VK Singh are present there," says Harpal Singh, Project Head, Zoji-la Tunnel.
CM Dhami highly appreciated the morale and courage of the workers and personnel engaged in the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, NDRF and SDRF personnel entered the tunnel for rescue to rescue the workers.
Earlier today, Uttarakhand CM and other officials reached the Silkyara tunnel rescue site.
Read: National News
A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. (ANI)
Uttarkashi: First Worker Evacuated From Silkyara Tunnel; Rescue Operation Underway
Uttarkashi, Nov 28: After 17 days of the marathon operation, the first worker out of 41 workers has been evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel and efforts to bring out the remaining trapped workers are underway.
As the rescue operations enter the final stage, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the work of pipe pushing inside the Silkyara tunnel where the efforts to bring out 41 trapped workers has been done across the debris.
"There has been a great success in the ongoing rescue operation in the Silkyara Tunnel, the work of pipe pushing has been done across the debris. Now preparations have been started to evacuate the workers safely," Uttarakhand CM posted on X (formerly Twitter).
As the pipe has reached the place where the workers are trapped, the lights are being installed inside the pipeline so that the workers do not face any problems in the rescue operation. The rescue operation of workers may start soon.
Meanwhile, NDRF and SDRF personnel enter inside the tunnel for rescue, the operation to rescue the workers is about to start in a few minutes.
A worker involved in the rescue operation says, "The situation is good. Four to five people from NDRF have gone inside. The process of rescuing the workers has already begun. We are taking stretchers inside to bring the trapped workers outside..."
"The rescue work has been completed and the trapped workers will start coming out in the next 15-20 minutes. NDRF teams will pull out the workers now. It will take around half an hour to rescue all the 41 trapped workers. There are no hurdles now," a worker involved in the rescue operation.
Read: National News
Earlier today, Uttarakhand CM and other officials reached the Silkyara tunnel rescue site.
A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. (ANI)
Download Argus News App
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Kendrapara: Fish, Chicken Eggs Prepared From Vegetarian Ingredients On Chhadakhai
Kerala HC Grants Interim Bail To Former Indian Speedster Sreesanth In A Cheating Case
"BJP Is Emerging As Telangana's Preferred Choice": PM Modi
Uttarkashi Rescue: Medical Facility Expanded Inside Tunnel, Chinook Helicopter To Airlift Workers
CJI Chandrachud Welcomes Judges From Overseas To Supreme Court
Stock Market Concludes On A Positive Note With Nifty And Sensex Posting Gains
RBI To Maintain Repo Rate At 6.5%: Experts
TOP STORIES
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Pipe Laying Work Completed, Evacuation Soon Says CM Dhami
Data And Voice Services Provided At Vertical Location Of Silkyara Tunnel
"Hoping For Good News By Evening": Nodal Officer For Silkyara Rescue Raises Hope Of Early Evacuation
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: PM Modi Speaks To CM Dhami, Takes Stock Of The Situation
BharatPe Turns EBDITA Positive For First Time
Alia Bhatt Falls Prey To Deepfake Video After Rashmika Mandanna And Katrina
Thousands Of Devotees Take Part In Nimbarka Jayanti In Subarnapur
2 Held For Targetting Young Woman Riding Pillion With Male Colleague In Scooter
Markets Await Exit Polls On Thursday
CM Yogi Adityanath Appeals To Opposition To Allow Assembly Smooth Conduct Of Proceedings
S&P Raises Forecast For India’s GDP Growth
Boipariguda PS IIC Under Vigilance Scanner, Rs 25 Lakh Cash Recovered
Widespread Rain, Snow Likely In J&K On Nov 29-30
Karan Johar Pens Long Note As SRK-Saif-Preity Starrer 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' Turns 20
