WHO: Europe could top 2 million COVID-19 deaths by March

The World Health Organization’s Europe office on Tuesday said reported deaths around the continent have risen to nearly 4,200 a day, double the number from September. Cumulative deaths across the region’s 53 nations have reached 1.5 million, and could rise by another 700,000 deaths by next spring, the agency added.

What is causing the surge? WHO pointed to the highly infectious delta variant, low vaccination rates, and relaxing restrictive measures such as physical distancing. The surge is expected to bring back pressure on intensive care units in about 49 European countries by March. The agency called for booster shots for the vulnerable and for healthcare workers.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Sift on protests against lockdown measures in Europe.