WHO: 25 countries in Europe reported about new strain of COVID-19

In the absence of intensive control measures, the new "British" strain of coronavirus will further increase the health system's burden, which is alarming, WHO's Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, Report states.

He noted that 25 countries in the European region have already reported the detection of a new strain of COVID-19.

"With the new strain, the coronavirus infection does not progress more severe or more comfortable than with the usual one. It spreads among all age categories. In a short time, we need to increase anti-epidemic efforts to reduce the virus's spread and save many lives. These are known measures - wearing masks, avoiding large-scale events, distancing, tracing contacts of infected people, and expanding the vaccination process will lead to the expected results. We are monitoring this process, "he said.

Kluge also noted that more than 90 percent of the vaccines produced are in 30 countries globally, stressing that WHO will do everything possible to make the vaccine available to every country.