The European Union Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said today, Monday, that the countries of the European Union must now start preparing for a new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the coming autumn and winter, noting a "alarming increase" in outbreaks.
The commissioner warned that the pandemic was not over yet, telling Cyprus Radio, "Unfortunately, there has been an alarming increase in cases in several countries."
"For the past two months, we have been preparing for fall and winter, fully aware that the next pandemic wave cannot - and should not - burden our economies or societies, especially at a time when they are already affected by the war, the invasion of Ukraine, and inflation," she said.
Kyriakidis indicated that the Commission has asked Member States to speed up the pace of granting booster doses of vaccines to those over the age of 60 and to groups at risk of infection.
In the context, several Chinese cities - including Shanghai - announced last week the alert due to new hotbeds of Covid-19 infections, and decided to conduct frequent mass examinations or extend the general closure that includes millions of residents.