In the country overview report it published on Thursday, 2 February, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports an improvement in the Covid-19 pandemic situation in Europe for the 4th week of 2023 (i.e., the week ending 29 January).
The ECDC highlights that the reported data indicates continued overall improvement in the Covid-19 epidemiological situation in the European Union and the European Economic Area, following a peak in transmission in December.
The indicators (rates of hospitalisation, admission to intensive care, death caused by Covid-19, etc.) are at the lowest levels observed in the last 12 months.
However, several countries reported recent increases (lasting one week). Yet, the indicators remained relatively low in the affected countries.
With numbers to back up its claims, the ECDC nevertheless notes that despite the improvement in the epidemiological situation, Covid-19 continues to burden health systems in the EU/EEA. In addition, a total of 1,001 deaths due to Covid-19 were reported in 26 EU/EEA countries during the 4th week.
The ECDC is thus insisting on the importance of SARS-CoV-2 booster doses, especially for vulnerable groups.
The report provides epidemiological indicators on Covid-19 as well as information on trends, vaccination, and circulating variants for EU/EEA countries.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/56i (Original version in French by Emilie Vanderhulst)