Europe’s decline in cases may be fragile progress: WHO

The announcement of 60 per cent drop in COVID cases comes as the EU plans to reopen its borders for fully vaccinated tourists and other non-essential travellers

Europe has recorded a 60 per cent drop in new Coronavirus infections over the past month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, while cautioning that the progress may be fragile, the media reported.

The WHO’s announcement comes as the European Union (EU) plans for reopening its borders for fully vaccinated tourists and other non-essential travellers.
The weekly number of new cases across Europe dropped to nearly 685,000 last week from 1.7 million in mid-April, the New York Times reported, Hans Kluge, the WHO’s European director as saying.

However, as regulations get relaxed, social gatherings and travel during the summer holiday season will rise, and could result in more transmission of the virus, Kluge said, adding that deadly variants spreading within the bloc remained a cause for concern.

“This progress is fragile, we have been here before,” Kluge told reporters at a news conference, advising vigilance over outbreaks “that could quickly evolve into dangerous resurgences.”

The B1617 variant, first identified in India and has been deemed a variant of concern by the WHO, has now spread to 26A countries in the European region.  

Japan govt approves two Coronavirus vaccines

A Japanese government panel of experts approved two Covid-19 vaccines developed by the US drug maker Moderna Inc. and the UK-based AstraZeneca Plc, with the Health Ministry expected to formaliae the approval of the use of the two jabs on Friday. 

Canada-US border curbs extended

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that restrictions along the country’s border with the United States against non-essential travel has been extended another month until June 21 to stem the spread of Covid-19. “To protect your health and limit the spread of COVID-19, we’re extending the measures currently in place by another 30 days. Non-essential travel between our two countries remains restricted until June 21,” the Prime Minister tweeted on Thursday.

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