Europe has surpassed one million Covid-19 related deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday, April 15.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge disclosed in a press conference that the severe landmark was passed last week.

Kluge however warned that despite the progress of the European vaccine rollout the situation in the region remained “serious.”

“1.6 million new cases are reported every week. That’s 9500 every hour, 160 people every minute,” he said.

The WHO European region comprises 53 countries including non-EU states such as Turkey and Russia.

Kluge has since cautioned that the early signs of decline in some countries do not necessarily equate to “lower rates of transmission.

The decline in incidence rates has been observed “only amongst the oldest” of people so far with hospitalization remaining “nonetheless at high levels” he added.

The WHO has continuously received reports of “intensive care capacity having been exceeded from all parts of the region” with Kluge pointing towards France where Intensive Care Units (ICU) admissions in April “reached the highest levels since last year.”