Summary of the Text:
Current Situation:
The summer wave of COVID-19 is causing an increase in infections across Europe.
The percentage of patients with respiratory diseases testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 has increased by 5 times in the past 8 weeks.
While hospitalizations and deaths are still occurring, the absolute number of cases is lower than the peak winter wave.
WHO Recommendations:
Wear masks in crowded indoor spaces to reduce the risk of infection.
Get vaccinated to protect against severe disease and death.
New Variants:
KP.3.1.1 is the most common variant in Europe, accounting for a quarter of recent cases.
Other variants, such as JN.1 and its descendants, are also circulating.
Future of COVID-19:
The future behavior of the virus is unpredictable, but multiple waves are likely to occur.
Surveillance and vaccination remain crucial for managing the pandemic.
Additional Information:
The vaccines have saved over 1.6 million lives in Europe since their availability in December 2020.
The region is transitioning from emergency management to a sustainable and long-term approach to the pandemic.
Key Points:
COVID-19 is still present and contagious in Europe.
Masks, vaccination, and surveillance are important preventive measures.
New variants are emerging, but their impact is not yet fully understood.
* The future trajectory of the pandemic is uncertain.