Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA)

This is a conservative estimate due to a drop in countries regularly reporting COVID-19 deaths to WHO, said WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge, urging authorities to ensure vaccination coverage of at least 70 per cent for vulnerable groups.

Unless researchers develop comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for long COVID-19, people will never truly recover from the pandemic, Kluge said, encouraging more research in the area.