Premature easing of Covid-19 restrictions 'will lead to increase in severe cases and mortality'

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has called for 'strong and decisive public health interventions' to control the transmission of Covid-19. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has said that the epidemiological situation in Europe is still of “serious concern" and that easing lockdown measures prematurely "will lead to a rapid increase" in Covid-19 cases and deaths. 

In a Covid-19 risk assessment, it said that the majority of EU countries are still experiencing high or increasing notification rates in older age groups and/or high death rates, despite a decline in the overall incidence of the virus.