Coronavirus: Europe ‘well behind’ in fight against Covid-19, warns WHO

'There's no question that the European region is an epicentre for disease right now’

Europe is “well behind” in the fight against Covid-19, the World Health Organisation has warned, adding that the continent has become an epicentre for the disease again.

Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies programme, said countries should “not give up on trying to suppress transmission” as he called for the implementation of stricter measures.

The situation in Europe has worsened in recent weeks amid a mounting second wave. A string of countries have reported record increases, led by France, which posted more than 50,000 daily cases for the first time on Sunday, while the continent has passed the threshold of 250,000 deaths.

The region, comprising 46 countries at WHO, accounts for 46 per cent of global cases and nearly one third of deaths, said Dr Ryan.

"There's no question that the European region is an epicentre for disease right now,” he said during a media briefing.

"Right now we are well behind this virus in Europe so getting ahead of it is going to take some serious acceleration in what we do and maybe much more comprehensive nature of measures that are going to be needed."

He said that if European countries imposed much tougher measures, it should be possible to stay ahead of transmission rates as long as thorough public health surveillance is in place.

Clinical capacity to manage Covid-19 hospitalised patients has increased in the region and death rates are "very, very low”, Dr Ryan added, paying tribute to health systems and medical workers.

"But we are seeing a large number of cases, we are seeing widespread disease, we are seeing very, very high positivity rates and an increasing lack of capacity to do any effective form of contact-tracing which is further going to drive the disease into the darkness," he said.

"And many countries are now facing the spectre of shutdowns in the coming weeks. It is not a situation where I'm sure any country in Europe or in the world would want to be in," he added.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on the pandemic, also voiced concern about the situation in Europe, pointing to a surge in hospital admissions and rapidly filling intensive care units.

“In many cities we’re seeing beds filling up too quickly and we’re seeing many projections saying the ICU beds will reach capacity in the coming days and weeks,” she said.

Dr Ryan also warned that the free movement of people within the EU was going to present a huge challenge as the transmission rate gathers pace, and might have to be suspended in a bid to get the virus under control.

"Europe has spent 50 to 70 years trying to break down barriers and break down walls - it's not an easy thing to build a coherent response across so many countries with so many different approaches, with so many land borders," he said.

"There's a lot of free movement, on those principles it may require shutting down and restricting movement and having stay-at-home orders in order to take the heat out of this phase of the pandemic."

Dr Ryan expressed his frustration at conspiracy theorists and anti-lockdown campaigners, but said not everyone had the knowledge to accept the scale of the problem.

"How can you convince someone to do something if they don't actually believe there is a problem?" he said.

"Persuasion is a discussion, persuasion is a dialogue, persuasion involves the exchange of resources between people.

"Governments need to persuade people to do the right thing but they need to support people in doing that."

Separately, WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticised world leaders who have undermined scientists during the pandemic.

He said: "Where there has been political division at the national level, where there has been blatant disrespect for science and health professionals, confusion has spread and Covid-19 cases and deaths have mounted.

"A pandemic is not a political football. Wishful thinking or deliberate diversion will not prevent transmissions or save lives.

"What will save lives is science, solutions and solidarity.”

Additional reporting by agencies