WHO officials warn about global Covid-19 rise

With Covid cases returning after a period of decline, WHO says we might witness only “the tip of the iceberg”. South Korea and China register the highest rates.

The global rise in Covid-19 has turned WHO officials to warn all countries to remain vigilant about the pandemic, as some parts of the world are still struggling to contain outbreaks.

"These increases are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we’re seeing are just the tip of the iceberg," declared Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

The omicron variant, the highly transmissible BA.2 sub-variant, as well as the lifting of restrictions and low vaccination rates in some areas are considered to be responsible for the increase in case numbers.

In the first rise since this year’s January, 11 million new cases and over 43.000 deaths were reported in only one week. Infection rates have increased by 8 per cent on a global scale.

South Korea and China have declared the highest rates, with a 25 per cent rose in cases and a 27 per cent rose in deaths. Africa registered a 12 per cent rise, while Europe only a 2 per cent rise with no recorded deaths. On the other hand, the eastern Mediterranean region has reported a decline in Covid-19 cases.

Nevertheless, experts warn that Europe might face a new coronavirus wave, with significant increase in infections across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK. The situation in Denmark, however, seems to currently be under control.

"I agree with the easing of restrictions, because you can’t think of it as an emergency after two years,"

"We just have to avoid thinking that Covid is no longer there. And therefore maintain the strictly necessary measures, which are essentially the continuous monitoring and tracking of cases, and the maintenance of the obligation to wear a mask in closed or very crowded places", commented Dr. Antonella Viola, immunology professor at University of Padua.

The United States are also expected to register significant cases increase, triggered by the BA.2 variant, the lifting of health and social Covid-19 related measures and waning of vaccine immunity.

 

Sources: reuters.com, nbcnews.com