Has the omicron peak arrived? Experts do not dare to end the wave of variant in Europe

The surge in coronavirus cases caused by the omicron variant may have peaked in some parts of Europe, but doctors say the impact will continue to be felt across the region and hospitals remain at risk of facing a flood. from income.

Health experts and politicians warn against complacency, saying it is still unclear whether their data reflects the full impact of the Christmas and New Year holidays, when families gather for long periods indoors, with a risk of intergenerational spread of the virus. virus that may be higher.

In addition, although vaccination and the lower severity of the omicron variant mean hospitalizations are lower than in previous waves of COVID-19 infections, Europe is still responsible for about half of global cases and deaths.

But there are growing signs that the rise in infections caused by the omicron variant, first identified in southern Africa and Hong Kong, is leveling off or even slowing in some areas.

The seven-day average of UK cases has fallen by 30,000 from its peak, as the Spanish prime minister has said infection numbers are stabilizing and the French public health institute has said the wave will peak. in the middle of January.

“We see several places where the peak is being reached or has been reached. It may be a little earlier than expected, but you have to remember that the region is very diverse,” Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) director for Europe, said this week.

“So we have to take into account the eastern part of the region and the Central Asian republics, where this peak can still reach.”

Health authorities in Sweden and Switzerland have said the peak in those two countries is expected to be reached towards the end of this month.

“We could reach the peak in the next two weeks if the contacts between people remain at the same level. If people are more cautious, it will take longer, ”Tanja Stadler, head of the Swiss scientific group against COVID-19, told the press on Tuesday.

The trend echoes the wave of omicron in Africa, which according to the WHO office on this continent appears to be leveling off, making it the shortest wave of cases to date.

Denmark, where cases are dominated by omicron, eased some restrictions this week and the health minister said the pandemic in the country was now under control.

The UK Office for National Statistics has stated that the growth of infections has slowed in England. An estimated one in 15 people became infected in the week ending January 6, the same as the previous week.