OREANDA-NEWS. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects a sharp increase in the number of deaths in Europe and Central Asian countries from the effects of coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2. By the beginning of December, another 236 thousand people may die from COVID-19 in this region, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said on Monday, August 30, in Copenhagen.

According to Kluge, so far 1.3 million people have died from COVID-19 in 53 countries of Europe and Central Asia, 64 million cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in the region. The WHO representative expressed concern about the sharp increase in the number of infections: in 33 countries of the region, these indicators have recently increased by ten percent or more.

Kluge explained what is happening with the widespread spread of the more contagious «delta» variant of the coronavirus, the abolition of anti-coronavirus restrictions and the growth of tourism. The Regional Director called for increasing the pace of vaccination, noting that in less prosperous countries of the region, only six percent of the population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus.