He highlighted the continued threat of the widespread delta variant and noted that the new omicron variant has so far accounted for 432 confirmed cases in 21 countries in the region.

“The delta variant remains dominant in Europe and Central Asia, and we know that COVID-19 vaccines remain effective in reducing serious illness and resulting deaths,” he told reporters from headquarters. WHO Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark. “It remains to be seen how and if the latest worrying variant of COVID-19, omicron, will be more communicable, or more or less severe. “

Kluge urged countries to “protect children and schools” amid the region’s rapid rise in youth cases, and said the incidence of COVID-19 was two to three times higher among younger children than the average population in some places. Children tend to face milder cases than more vulnerable populations such as the elderly, healthcare workers, and people with weaker immune systems.

“As the school holidays approach, we must also recognize that children infect their parents and grandparents at home, with a 10-fold increased risk for these adults of developing serious illness, being hospitalized or dying. ‘they are not vaccinated,’ he said. “The health risks extend beyond the children themselves.

Kluge has also spoken out against vaccination warrants, saying they should be an “absolute last resort” and only be effective in certain settings.

The WHO European region has been the global epicenter of the pandemic for weeks, accounting for 70% of cases and 61% of deaths worldwide according to the United Nations health agency’s weekly epidemiological report released last week .

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David Keyton in Stockholm contributed to this report.