New corona variant on the rise in Europe

Concern about pressure on healthcare systems

The new Omikron variant XBB.1.5 is spreading

According to WHO information, the subline XBB.1.5 of the coronavirus variant Omicron is also on the rise in Europe. It spreads faster than previous variants.

Recent data from some countries in the region were beginning to point to the increasing presence of XBB.1.5, WHO Regional Office Europe director Hans Kluge said at an online press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday. Cases would be discovered in small but growing numbers. We are working to assess the potential impact of this. After three long years of the pandemic, one cannot afford any further pressure on the health systems.

With regard to the aggravated corona situation in China, Kluge shared the current assessment of the EU health authority ECDC that the increase in the number of cases there is unlikely to have a major impact on the epidemiological situation in Europe. According to available information, the variants circulating in China are those that have been seen in Europe and elsewhere.