Omicron to infect half of Europe's population - WHO

Europe saw more than 7 million newly reported Covid-19 cases in the first week of 2022, more than doubling over a two-week period, the WHO's Europe director Hans Kluge told a news briefing.

"At this rate, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation forecasts that more than 50% of the population in the region will be infected with Omicron in the next 6-8 weeks," Kluge said.

However, current approved vaccines continue to provide a protection and reduce severe disease, hospitalization and death, he said.

Kluge also called on countries to keep school open. "Schools should be the last places to close and the first to reopen," he said.