Covid, cases quintupled in the summer wave. The WHO wants us to put masks back on –

«In recent weeks, several countries in the European region have reported an increase in the number» of positive Sars-CoV-2 cases, «a summer wave of Covid». And it is «a timely reminder that, while Covid is fading into a distant memory for millions of people, the virus has not disappeared. The percentage of patients with respiratory illnesses who are found to have Sars-CoV-2 in primary care has increased 5-fold in the last 8 weeks and the percentage of patients admitted to hospital has also risen. While the absolute number of cases is lower than the winter wave that peaked in December 2023, Covid infections in the region this summer are still causing hospitalizations and deaths». This is the picture painted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe.

How to protect yourself? Even by considering wearing a mask in certain particularly risky situations, the agency suggests among other indications. “To reduce the chances of infection, especially now that Covid is circulating more, consider using masks in crowded closed spaces. A disposable mask like the N95”, similar to the Ffp2 in filtering capacity, “offers the best protection”, indicates WHO Europe. “If you have to interact with someone who has Covid, whether a family member or someone else, using a mask becomes particularly important”. The agency made the point on the occasion of the release of the results of a study that showed that anti-Covid vaccines have saved “over 1.6 million lives” from when they were made available in December 2020 until March 2023. The increase in the number of Covid cases reported this summer, WHO Europe analyzes, “could be explained by holiday travel, mass events such as major sports tournaments and music festivals and less competition from concomitant respiratory diseases such as influenza. Getting an updated Covid vaccine remains an extremely effective tool to reduce both hospitalizations and deaths among people at high risk”, such as “elderly or immunosuppressed people, people with multiple pre-existing conditions, pregnant women and healthcare workers who could be easily exposed” to the virus. The vaccine “also reduces the chances of developing long Covid”.

Unlike seasonal flu, WHO Europe continues, “COVID-19 circulates all year round. Until this pattern changes, the region could experience multiple waves each year, which puts strain on health systems and increases the likelihood that people, especially the most vulnerable, will get sick.” Among the suggestions on how to contain the risk of contagion, the importance of washing your hands regularly is recalled, an action that “continues to be an effective infection control measure, both against Sars-CoV-2 and many other viruses and bacteria. Taking these types of precautions is particularly important for vulnerable people who are at higher risk of serious outcomes if they become infected.” In case of symptoms, such as fever, cough, fatigue or shortness of breath, the agency continues, “a test for Covid should be done, if available – the European Regional Office indicates – to confirm whether you are infected and to understand the level of risk to yourself and others.” Finally, if you are at high risk of serious outcomes from Covid, “you may be eligible for antiviral drugs.”