WHO warns of growing ‘Covid-19 fatigue’ across Europe as cases rise

Countries urged to ‘reinvigorate and revive’ efforts to tackle pandemic as apathy rises among ‘exhausted’ populations

Bars and cafes have been closed in Paris as coronavirus cases rise across Europe (AFP via Getty Images)

“Covid-19 fatigue” is growing across Europe as more people feel apathetic about a pandemic that has “exhausted all of us” for eight months, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Countries must find ways to “reinvigorate and revive” efforts to tackle the virus as infection rates rise in many parts of the world despite the “huge sacrifices” already made by populations, said Hans Henri Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for the continent.

Although nations measure fatigue in different ways and levels vary between countries, surveys show coronavirus fatigue is growing across Europe. In some nations more than 60 per cent report feeling apathetic over the pandemic, the WHO said.

“Amidst this protracted public health emergency, one that has forced people to live with uncertainty and disruption for many months, these levels of fatigue are to be expected,” Dr Kluge said.

“It has come at an extraordinary cost, which has exhausted all of us, regardless of where we live, or what we do. In such circumstances it is easy and natural to feel apathetic and demotivated,” he added.

Dr Kluge said authorities must “take the pulse of the community regularly, and use what you find” to counter fatigue.  

“From understanding the behavioural needs of young people returning to university to the emotional toll isolation has taken in elderly care homes, policy must be driven by the growing body of evidence we have on people’s behaviours and on fatigue,” he added.

Public consultation and participation on coronavirus policies “an acknowledgement of the hardships that people are facing” are also important, Dr Kluge said.

He pointed to a local authority in Denmark which had invited students to help devise ways to preserve the university experience while protecting against the spread of Covid-19, and social media polls used by Turkey to understand non-compliance with restrictions.

Dr Kluge warned the “coming celebration season” would pose new challenges as people look to spend time with family and friends during Christmas and Hanukkah.

“We do not yet have all the answers to navigate the season ahead,” he said, but added “creative approaches can restore social pleasure while protecting communities”.

“We saw this during Ramadan across the region, when community-based groups found safe solutions to breaking the fast, including doing so virtually or delivering meals to homes for distanced celebrations,” Dr Kluge said.

Boris Johnson last week acknowledged public “fatigue” with the UK’s lockdown and accepted people were “furious” with ongoing restrictions to their lives.

The prime minister has also repeatedly blamed the public for the recent spike in coronavirus cases, saying that “everyone got a bit complacent and a bit blasé about transmission and the rules on social distancing weren’t perhaps obeyed in the way they could have been”.