The World Health Organization’s Dr. Mike Ryan has warned countries against “pushing” to return to “normalcy” too soon.

Dr Ryan, the Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s emergencies programme, says despite the large number of people that have already received their Covid-19 vaccination, infections in European countries will continue to rise, when the basic health- and safety regulations are ignored.

Ryan says relaxing rules – such as the wearing of masks and disregarding social-distancing measures – are a recipe for disaster.

Access the full briefing here.

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“The idea that everyone is protected and it’s “kumbaya”, and everything goes back to normal – is a very dangerous assumption anywhere in the world. We’d ask governments to be really careful at this moment, not to lose the gains that we’ve made”-@DrMikeRyan #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/CdGUojObmI

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 9, 2021

The #COVID19 situation globally is very dangerous with high levels of transmission driven by major factors:
virus variants
increased social mixing and mobility of people
inappropriate use of public health & social measures
vaccine inequity
– Dr @mvankerkhove pic.twitter.com/BKBuTXHbBU

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 8, 2021