Speaking to reporters from WHO European headquarters in Copenhagen, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Klugh, said that "delta mutants continue to prevail

throughout Europe and Central Asia, and we know that Kovd-19 vaccines continue to be effective in reducing severe symptoms and resulting deaths. It remains to be seen how and whether the most recent mutant of the virus of concern, Omicron, will be more transportable, more or less dangerous. "

Klugh stressed the continuing threat from a widespread delta mutant and noted that the new Omicron mutant had so far accounted for 432 confirmed cases in 21 countries.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Europe said today, children in the 5-14 age group now account for the highest reported incidence of CovID-19.

Urging States to "protect children and schools" amid the rapid increase in infections among young people, he said that the incidence of KoviD-19 was two to three times higher among young children than the average population in some places.

Children tend to face less serious situations than the most vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, health-care workers and people with weak immune systems.

He added: "As school holidays approach, we must also recognize that children transmit infection to their parents and grandparents at home, with a higher risk of serious illness, hospitalization or death when not vaccinated, more than ten times the health risk for the children themselves."

Klugh also refused to force vaccination, stating that it must be a "last resort at all," and that it would only be effective in some cases.

It should be noted that weeks ago, according to the weekly report of the United Nations Health Agency released last week, the European region of the World Health Organization (WHO) is a global centre for the pandemic, accounting for 70% of cases and 61% of deaths worldwide.