Specialist for COVID-19 The World Health Organization (WHO) predicted a third wave of pandemics in Europe in early 2021 if, he said, governments failed to do what they needed to do to prevent a second wave.
"They missed the opportunity to build the necessary infrastructure during the summer months, after bringing the first wave of the new coronavirus epidemic under control," David Nabarro said in an interview with Swiss newspapers.
"Now we have the second wave. "If they do not create the necessary infrastructure, we will have a third wave at the beginning of next year," said Nabarro, a Briton who had unsuccessfully claimed the post of director general of the WHO in 2017.
In Europe there has been a pandemic recession for a short time, and now there is an upward trend again: Germany and France saw their new coronavirus cases rise by 33.000 for both, Switzerland and Austria record daily Thousands of cases, while Turkey recorded a record 5.532 new cases.
Nabaro pointed to Switzerland's move to allow skiing - with the use of a cable car mask - while other Alpine states such as Austria closed ski resorts and noted that Switzerland could reach "a very high level of illness and death". ”.
"When infection rates fall, and will fall, then we can be as free as we want," he said, according to a statement quoted by the Solothurner Zeitung. "But now; Should ski resorts be open? Under what conditions? ”He continued.
Nabaro praised the reaction of Asian countries such as South Korea, where the number of cases of the new coronavirus is now relatively low: "People are fully committed, adopting behaviors that make the virus difficult. They keep their distance, wear masks, isolate themselves when they are sick, wash their hands and surfaces. "They protect the most vulnerable groups."
Nabarro also noted that Asia did not prematurely relax the restrictive measures.
"One has to wait until the number of cases is low and remains low," he said. "Europe's response has been weak."