The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that Europe may see 236,000 more deaths from COVID-19 by December, raising concern over the increasing number of infections and vaccination rates that are not improving.

The warning came as the number of deaths related to COVID-19 surpassed the figure of 4.5 million globally, as per an AFP tally. The number of cases are rising again worldwide, as the highly transmissible Delta variant becomes dominant.

The chief of WHO Europe stated that cases and fatalities were increasing again in Europe, especially in poorer countries in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia. WHO Europe director Hans Kluge stated that over the previous week, an 11% rise in the number of deaths was recorded in the region, adding that one reliable projection is anticipating 236,000 deaths in the continent by December 1… (NDTV – AFP, August 31, 2021)