Europe Confronts COVID-19's Fourth Wave

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in its weekly epidemiological COVID-19 update that 'Europe again was leading the world in percentages of new cases and deaths from the disease.'

The WHO reported the number of new cases in Europe rose by 7% last week, and the number of deaths increased by 10%.

The European Commission (EC), the executive branch of the European Union, acknowledged the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Europe during a news briefing in Brussels.

EC spokeswoman Dana Spinant described the situation as "complex" and "rapidly changing," adding that member states discussed the following steps to be taken, reported VOA.

For example, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for an urgent meeting with state governors after the nation's Robert Koch Institute for Infectious diseases reported a record number of COVID-19 cases for a single day.

It was also announced that Bulgaria activated the European bloc's civil protection mechanism, an emergency designation in which member states request assistance with disasters or other emergencies.