As a new wave of infections sweeps Europe and the US, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments and health institutions to take action to prevent COVID-19 transmission. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing in Geneva on 12 July that subtypes of the Omicron strain are increasing the number of cases and resulting in additional deaths. To contain the spread, Tedros suggested reviving standards such as the use of masks.
WHO is concerned that, ar . despite100% increase in cases, surveillance of the virus and any new potential varieties is decreasing. According to Tedros, a WHO committee reiterated that the COVID-19 outbreak is still a public health emergency of global concern, similar to the way the WHO classifies pandemics.
BA.4 and BA.5 omicron Sub-variants are at the forefront A new wave of cases is concentrating in Europe when people attend large meetings and start traveling again after a two-year halt.
The Office for National Statistics estimates that 2.1 million people in England, or one in every 25, tested positive in the last week of June. even if a person Already have COVID-19, they are still susceptible to infection; Nevertheless, vaccination helps protect against serious disease.
“The new waves of the virus show that COVID-19 is nowhere to be found,” Tedros said, adding that he is “concerned about the rising trend of deaths.”
WHO said there is no evidence till date Given that many governments are concerned about the BA.5 sub-lineage, particularly anecdotal evidence of the possibility of re-infection.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical chief for COVID-19, said that despite the decline in surveillance, including testing and sequencing to detect and identify variants, the virus is still spreading very rapidly globally. The WHO’s regional director for Europe has already recommended a second booster dose of vaccination for all vulnerable individuals and those around them.
(with agency input)
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