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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Jon Henley Europe correspondent

Covid: Europe set for ‘long period of tranquillity’ in pandemic, says WHO

Shoppers walk down the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Hans Kluge, the WHO’s Europe director, said there will be a ‘ceasefire’ in the pandemic.
Shoppers walk down the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Hans Kluge, the WHO’s Europe director, said there will be a ‘ceasefire’ in the pandemic. Photograph: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

Europe could soon enter a “long period of tranquillity” that amounts to a “ceasefire” in the pandemic thanks to the less severe Omicron variant, high levels of immunity and the arrival of warmer spring weather, the World Health Organization has said.

In an upbeat assessment, Hans Kluge, the WHO’s Europe director, said the region was in a position of “higher protection” that could “bring us enduring peace”, even if a new, more virulent variant than Omicron should emerge.

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