Global COVID-19 Infections Up For First Time In 7 Weeks: WHO

ZURICH (Reuters):

The variety of new coronavirus infections globally rose final week for the primary time in seven weeks, the World Well being Group stated on Monday.

“We have to have a stern warning for all of us: that this virus will rebound if we let it,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO technical lead for COVID-19, advised a briefing. “And we can’t let it.”

WHO Director-Common Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated the rise in circumstances was “disappointing however not stunning” and urged international locations to not loosen up measures to battle the illness.

It was too early for international locations to rely solely on vaccination programmes and abandon different measures, he stated: “If international locations rely solely on vaccines, they’re making a mistake. Fundamental public well being measures stay the inspiration of the response.”

Tedros famous that Ghana and Ivory Coast turned the primary international locations on Monday to start vaccinating folks with doses provided by COVAX, the worldwide programme to supply vaccines for poor and middle-income international locations.

However he additionally criticised wealthy international locations for hoarding vaccine doses, saying that it was in everybody’s curiosity for susceptible folks to be protected all over the world.

“It is regrettable that some international locations proceed to prioritise vaccinating youthful more healthy adults at decrease threat of ailments in their very own populations, forward of well being staff and older folks elsewhere,” Tedros stated.

Mike Ryan, the WHO’s high emergency skilled, stated the worldwide battle towards the coronavirus was in a greater state now than it was 10 weeks in the past earlier than the roll-outs of vaccines had begun. However it was too early to say the virus was coming underneath management.

“The difficulty is of us being in charge of the virus and the virus being in charge of us. And proper now the virus could be very a lot in management.”