Covid 19 WHO: WHO: COVID-19 cases rose by more than 50%, deaths stable

The variety of new coronavirus infections within the final week jumped by about 55%, though the variety of deaths remained secure, the World Well being Group mentioned in its newest pandemic report.

Within the weekly report issued Tuesday evening, the U.N. well being company mentioned there have been about 15 million new COVID-19 circumstances final week and greater than 43,000 deaths. Each world area reported an increase in COVID-19 circumstances aside from Africa, the place officers noticed an 11% drop.

Final week, WHO famous a pandemic report excessive of 9.5 million new infections in a single week, calling it a “tsunami” of illness.

WHO mentioned the extraordinarily contagious omicron variant continues to outline the pandemic globally and is now crowding out the beforehand dominant delta variant. It mentioned omicron, which was first detected in southern Africa in late November, accounts for almost 59% of all sequences shared with the most important publicly out there international database of viruses. WHO mentioned omicron had now confirmed to have a shorter doubling time, with growing proof it was in a position to “evade immunity.” It additionally famous there have been quite a few research that it’s much less extreme in comparison with earlier variants.

After a steep rise in omicron circumstances in South Africa after the variant was first detected, the epidemic rapidly dropped and consultants imagine the wave has now handed. WHO mentioned this week that after a steady rise of COVID-19 throughout Africa, circumstances fell this week for the primary time.

Scientists in Britain and the U.S. say there are early indicators the crush of omicron could have peaked, however they’re nonetheless unsure how the following part of the pandemic may unfold. WHO famous the Americas reported the highest-ever variety of COVID-19 circumstances this week, with a 78% spike, primarily pushed by the U.S.

The variety of new circumstances in Europe rose by 31%, whereas there was a ten% drop in deaths.

The largest bounce in COVID-19 infections was famous in Southeast Asia, the place circumstances elevated by greater than 400%, with the most important numbers reported in India, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Bangladesh. The numbers of deaths within the area fell by 6%.

The omicron variant spreads much more simply than different coronavirus strains, and has already develop into dominant in lots of nations. It additionally extra simply infects those that have been vaccinated or had beforehand been contaminated by prior variations of the virus. Nevertheless, early research present omicron is much less more likely to trigger extreme sickness than the earlier delta variant, and vaccination and a booster nonetheless supply robust safety from critical sickness, hospitalization and dying.