The risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections big enough to require European lockdowns to be reimposed is moderate to high, EU health experts have said, and depends on the gradual easing of restrictions and how people stick to them.

A pandemic risk assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also predicted a moderate pick-up in infection rates in the coming weeks, although it said transmission has passed its peak in most European countries.

“The pandemic is not over,” ECDC director Andrea Ammon said in a statement accompanying the assessment.

She said that while there are decreasing trends of Covid-19 infections across Europe, efforts are still needed to limit the spread of the disease.