European countries must hasten vaccine uptake and mandate mask wearing again to address the new surge in covid-19 cases and avoid tougher measures in the coming months, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday.

In an interview with Reuters, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge called on countries to act now to avoid overwhelming healthcare services in autumn and winter as the BA.5 subvariant continues to spread rapidly.

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About three million new Covid-19 cases were reported in Europe last week, which is equivalent to almost half of all new cases around the world. Hospitalizations have doubled over the same period, and about 3,000 people die of the virus every week, Kluge revealed in an accompanying statement.

"There is a rise in cases ... amidst a society which is functioning almost as before," he said, stressing the need for "pandemic stabilizers," such as a second booster dose before the expected variant-specific vaccines in autumn, in addition to the encouragement for mask wearing and better ventilation.

These stabilizers must be implemented to avoid much tougher measures, he said, adding that the society is unprepared for "ordered lockdowns," and urging people to make their own decisions, even in nations where authorities have abandoned coronavirus restrictions.

“We’re all aware of the tools we have to keep ourselves safe, assess our level of risk and take the necessary steps to protect others if we get infected,” he said. “Just because a mask isn’t mandated doesn’t mean it’s prohibited.”