Displaced people from Ukraine hosted in reception centres should be offered free access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination for COVID-19. Additionally, protective measures are recommended by ECDC in the report Guidance for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in temporary reception centres in the context of the displacement of people from Ukraine, published on 18 March.
As of 30 January 2022, 70.9% of adolescents aged 15-17 years and 34.8% of 10-14 year-olds completed the primary course of COVID-19 vaccination, though with a broad range across EU/EEA countries. More than half of adolescents aged 10 to 17 in the EU/EEA have not yet completed a primary course.
ECDC publishes ‘Considerations for the use of face masks in the community in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern’, a document which updates and complements ‘Using face masks in the community: first update - Effectiveness in reducing transmission of COVID-19’.
On 27 January, over 80 Romanian General Practitioners (GPs) and public health experts participated in an online workshop aimed at strengthening planning and implementation of information and vaccination caravans in rural areas.
The Omicron variant of concern (VOC) is currently spreading with unprecedented speed and intensity across the EU/EEA, with overall reported infection rates three times higher than the highest peak during the pandemic so far.
As of 20 January 2022, the Omicron variant has been identified in all EU/EEA countries. From 20 December 2021 to 9 January 2022, there were 23 EU/EEA countries with adequate sequencing volume that reported an estimated prevalence of Omicron VOC of 69.4%.
From 20 December 2021 to 2 January 2022, there were 21 EU/EEA countries with adequate sequencing volume that reported an estimated prevalence of Omicron VOC of 46%.
Considering the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC), ECDC is proposing options regarding quarantine and isolation, and recommendations that can be adapted and implemented by EU/EEA Member States when resources are limited and when there is high pressure on healthcare systems and other functions in society (e.g. staff shortage and reduced resources).
In the week commencing 13 December, the number of flu cases (caused by the influenza virus) detected in the WHO European Region was above what we would normally expect to find in the population for the second week in a row, which indicates the so-called flu season epidemic has started.