Ongoing COVID surge in China not expected to significantly impact Europe: WHO official

(ECNS) -- The COVID surge in China won’t have significant influence on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Europe, said Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, on Tuesday at a press conference.

“We share the current view of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that the ongoing surge in China is not anticipated to significantly impact the COVID-19 epidemiological situation in the WHO European Region at this time,” said Kluge.

He called for countries in the WHO European Region to be rational to take precautionary travel measures, saying that these measures should be rooted in science, proportionate and non-discriminatory.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also said on Dec. 29, 2022 European countries have high levels of protection against COVID-19 and health systems on the continent can handle the current load of infections.