More than half of Europe will have been infected with the Omicron variant within weeks according to a stark new warning from the World Health Organisation

Regional European Director for Europe, Hans Kluge says a “west-to-east tidal wave” is sweeping across the continent.

Seven million new cases were reported throughout the region in the first week of 20-22… with the total number of infections more than doubling in just a 14 day period.

And these infection numbers are being seen right around the world.

Kluge says both European and Central Asian nations remain under “intense pressure”… with the virus spreading quickly from Western nations into the Balkans.

New data surrounding Omicron has found the variant is less likely to make people seriously ill… but Omicron is highly infectious and has the ability to impact even those who are fully vaccinated… which is straining hospitals.

In the United Kingdom, the huge number of new infections pushed the health care system to breaking point… and on Monday, Britain reported more than 142-thousand cases.

But Kluge says, despite Omicron’s ability to infect full vaccinated individuals, current vaccines remain the best form of defence against severe disease..