COVID: Should we fear a new winter wave of infections and hospitalisations?

Since mid-July, Europe has been experiencing a resurgence in cases of COVID due in part to the emergence of new variants.

Transcript

00:00 The number of COVID-19 cases has increased significantly in several European countries

00:09 over the summer.

00:14 Decreasing immunity and the emergence of new variants.

00:16 Should we fear a significant wave this winter?

00:21 COVID-19 is still there. We shouldn't panic, but we should ensure vaccination.

00:30 The continent is prepared. Of course, the big caveat is whether, hopefully not,

00:35 there will be a mutant which will be a little bit more dangerous and spreading fast.

00:42 In the best case scenario, this is a little bit like a flu case scenario,

00:47 the focus should be on the vulnerable people because you have left too many people behind,

00:52 particularly in the long-term care facilities.

00:56 According to experts, the best weapon to protect against the virus remains the vaccine.

01:04 I don't think Europe is in danger. Only those people, those countries which still have low vaccination coverage rates,

01:12 will remain in danger of experiencing increases in clinical disease, significant clinical disease and hospitalizations.

01:20 It is true that there is a new generation of vaccines that is being developed and we are expecting them by the end of this month,

01:27 but people should be reassured that the vaccines they have received are already protecting them very well against severe disease.

01:35 The European Union seems to be doing its part.

01:39 The European Commission has recently given the green light to a new vaccine to combat a sub-variant of Omicron.

01:46 But that's not all.

01:49 Coordination and working together is the basis of a strong European Health Union.

01:56 And from the beginning of the pandemic, we have worked with the Member States,

02:00 providing guidelines through ECDC on the way they need to monitor COVID-19,

02:07 on the need to have sequencing, on the need to have surveillance.

02:11 The European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety is making an appeal to European citizens.

02:18 A strong European Health Union means all of us working together to face a public health situation.

02:30 So follow the advice that is given by your doctors in terms of if you need to be vaccinated or not.

02:39 If you're feeling ill, stay at home.

02:41 It may not be COVID, it may be influenza,

02:44 but we need to protect each other in the difficult autumn and winter season that may follow.

02:50 (whooshing)