WHO sees pause, even end of Covid-19 pandemic for Europe

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday (Feb 3) offered Europe hope of a "long period of tranquility" and even "enduring peace" in the war on coronavirus, with a growing list of nations lifting almost all Covid-19 curbs.

WHO Europe director Hans Kluge spoke of "a ceasefire that could bring us enduring peace", with high vaccination rates, the milder Omicron variant and the end of winter in sight.

"This context leaves us with the possibility for a long period of tranquility," he told reporters.

This was "not to say that (the pandemic) is now all over", but "there is a singular opportunity to take control of the transmission", he added.

"Even with a more virulent variant (than Omicron) it is possible to respond to new variants that will inevitably emerge - without reinstalling the kind of disruptive measures we needed before," Dr Kluge said.

He cautioned that the optimistic scenario required countries to pursue vaccination campaigns and surveillance to detect new variants.

Sweden joined the move towards scrapping most coronavirus restrictions, setting Feb 9 as the date, with the pandemic entering a "whole new phase".

Stockholm will end an 11pm closing for bars and restaurants, and limits on crowd numbers. Vaccine passes for indoor events will go and face masks will no longer be recommended on crowded public transport.

"The pandemic is not over, but we are entering a whole new phase," Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced.

The country's Health Minister Lena Hallengren said the government would remain "vigilant" about the pandemic's progress.

Sweden made headlines early in the pandemic for choosing to not impose lockdowns. With over 16,000 fatalities so far, its death toll is in line with the European average, but is far higher than those of neighbouring Norway, Finland and Denmark.

After Britain and Ireland, Copenhagen on Tuesday lifted most domestic Covid-19 restrictions, followed later in the day by Norway.

France on Wednesday loosened several restrictions imposed to curb the latest Covid-19 surge, with the authorities hoping that a small decline in huge daily case numbers will soon ease pressure on overburdened hospitals.

And New Zealand is to start easing some of the toughest pandemic border restrictions yet seen, but will not fully reopen until October.

"It's time to move again," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday as she unveiled a five-step plan to reconnect to the rest of the world.

Hotel quarantine requirements for New Zealanders stranded overseas will be lifted this month.

Ms Ardern had been under pressure to relax border policies that have been largely unchanged since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis almost two years ago.

"Families and friends need to reunite, our businesses need skills to grow, exporters need to travel to make new connections," she said.

But Germany is still grappling with record infection numbers fuelled by Omicron and is now recommending a fourth vaccine for at-risk groups, following in the footsteps of Israel and several European nations.

Germany's STIKO vaccine commission said on Thursday that data showed "that protection against the currently circulating Omicron variant wanes within a few months of the first booster vaccination".

Last month, Israel became the first country to roll out fourth Covid-19 shots, initially to the elderly and healthcare workers, and since then to all vulnerable people over 18.

Denmark, Hungary and Spain are also offering fourth jabs to high-risk groups, as are others including Chile and Brazil.

The move has not been universally welcomed, with the WHO repeatedly warning wealthier nations that they cannot boost their way out of the pandemic.

Covid-19 has killed at least 5,698,322 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally from official sources.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the WHO estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.