The World Health Organization said this week that variants of the coronavirus are once again causing an increase in infections in Europe.
Why it matters: European countries reported about 1 million new cases last week, about a 9% increase from the week before. Last week’s rise ended a six-week drop in new infections, WHO said Thursday, according to AP.
In numbers: The variant first found in the UK, which may be more transmissible and deadly than the original strain of the virus, is spreading in 27 European countries monitored by the WHO, according to AP.
- It is now the dominant species in at least 10 countries: Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Israel, Spain and Portugal.
- Meanwhile, the variant first discovered in South Africa has been found in 26 European countries. Vaccine makers Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax have each reported that their vaccines, while still effective, offer less protection against the South African variety.
- The Brazilian variant, detected in 15 European countries, has the potential to reinfect people who have survived infections with previous versions of the coronavirus, according to Reuters.
The big picture: The Italian government this week tightened coronavirus restrictions in some of its 20 regions in response to the rise.