WHO warns of COVID-19 wave in Europe as Japan, Taiwan open back up

Just as health experts were warning of a new wave of COVID-19 infections in Europe, officials in Japan and Taiwan lifted restrictions on foreign travelers. The developments show how the pandemic has changed in severity across different places and times over the past 2 1/2 years.

The warning of a European COVID-19 wave came from the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Wednesday.  WHO’s region-wise data showed that only Europe recorded a rise in COVID-19 cases in the week ending on Oct. 2, clocking an increase of 8% from the prior week.

“Although we are not where we were one year ago, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over,” WHO’s Europe director, Hans Kluge, and ECDC’s director, Andrea Ammon, said in a joint statement. “We are unfortunately seeing indicators rising again in Europe, suggesting that another wave of infections has begun.”

The COVID-19 issues in Europe came as tourists flocked to Japan and Taiwan following the lifting of pandemic-era border restrictions. In Japan, that meant removing the country’s daily limit of 50,000 arrivals. Visa-free travel is also allowed once again for short-term business visits and tourism from more than 60 countries.

“It was three years ago that we could travel here,” German tourist Nadine Lackmann said Tuesday. “We had everything booked and wanted to fly, then we couldn’t and had to sit down and stay at home. Now it’s the first day that we can come here and we are so so happy.”

Airlines have added flights in response to the full re-opening of borders. Travelers are expected to deliver a sorely needed $35 billion boost to the world’s third-largest economy.

Taiwan, meanwhile, lifted all its COVID-19 entry restrictions on Thursday. Visitors are no longer required to quarantine upon entry, or take any PCR tests. Instead, they will need to monitor their health for a week after arriving, and obtain a negative result on a rapid antigen test the day they arrive.

“It’s very convenient. We don’t have to do the test before coming here and also after arriving,” Valaisurang Bhaedhayajibh, a design firm business director said. “But we are still required to do the self-test every few days. And everything has been provided [including] all the test kits.”

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.