Slovenian PM urges EU to prepare for fourth wave of COVID-19

In the near future, an increase in the number of infections with the Indian strain of coronavirus (the “delta” variant) is inevitable in Europe. This was stated by Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Jansa, speaking at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, reports Delo.

He urged EU countries to be prepared for a possible fourth wave of the pandemic. “We are following the resumption of public life very closely, but also preparing for a potential fourth wave, as we do not want it to challenge us in the fall, as it did last year,” Jansa said (quoted from 24Ur).

According to the premier, the fourth wave will "paralyze" Europe again, and the authorities should focus on how to prepare for a potential crisis. At the same time, Jansha said, he is optimistic, as he believes that the European vaccination strategy is working.

On the eve of Jansa, speaking at the State Assembly of Slovenia, he said that the next wave of coronavirus could begin in the country at the end of July. According to him, if by the end of summer it is not possible to vaccinate 70% of the population, then "everything will be closed in the fall."

The French authorities also warned about the risk of a fourth wave at the end of July. “Over the past week, the epidemic is gaining momentum again. <...> The delta variant, which is especially contagious, is gaining popularity very quickly,” said Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

On July 2, the HEAD of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that EU authorities are concerned about the spread of the “delta” variant of SARS-CoV-2: “We see that the new variant is much more common than others, the infection rate is growing, and we know that it is will grow". The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) estimates that by the end of August, the Indian strain will account for 90% of infections in the EU.

The European Commission announced the start of the third wave of coronavirus in March 2021. According to the World HEALTH Organization's special envoy for COVID-19, David Nabarro, its risk arose due to an insufficient response to the pandemic: EU countries failed to build the necessary infrastructure to combat coronavirus in the summer months of 2020, after the end of the first wave, Nabarro said. The second wave of the pandemic came in the fall of last year.