The number of Coronavirus cases in Eastern Europe may shortly top 20 million, as the region grapples with its largest outbreak since the pandemic began and immunization efforts lag.
The immunization rates in the region are the lowest in Europe, with less than half of the population receiving a single shot.
According to Our World in Data, Hungary has the highest immunization rates in the region, with 62 percent of its people receiving at least one shot, while Ukraine has only administered a single dosage to 19 percent of its residents.
New infections in the region have steadily risen and now average over 83,700 new cases per day, the highest level since November last year.
Although it has just 4% of the world’s population, eastern Europe accounts for roughly 20% of all new cases reported globally.
According to a Reuters analysis, three of the top five countries reporting the most deaths in the world are in eastern Europe – Russia, Ukraine and Romania.
More social gathering indoors after the lifting of restrictions just as winter sets in is driving a rise in COVID-19 infections in many countries across Europe.
