Fourth wave of COVID-19 in Europe deemed inevitable as Delta variant surges
People wearing face masks arrive at the Cadorna railway station, as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Milan, Italy May 4, 2020. REUTERS Filepic
BRUSSELS: A fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is expected to hit European countries in September or even as early as late July, as extremely contagious virus variants continue to spread across the region rapidly.
European Union (EU) health officials warn that the Delta and Delta Plus variants could account for 90 per cent of the bloc's cases by late August. The strains remain a major matter of concern, even though 61.5 per cent of the adult EU/EEA population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 40.3 per cent being fully vaccinated, according to Sputnik.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran has warned that a fourth wave was possible as early as the end of July, as the Delta variants were progressing in France, similar to what happened a month before in the United Kingdom. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Tuesday that his country was already facing the fourth wave.
Janez Jansa, the prime minister of Slovenia, which holds the EU Council presidency, in turn, said on Tuesday that the bloc needs to prepare for a potential fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The official added that the EU's priority was to do everything possible to prevent the new wave.
-- BERNAMA
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