The World Health Organization reported that over 10,000 people died from Covid-19 last month, with more ending up in hospitals and intensive care units.
The organization’s director, General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said holiday gatherings likely cause the spread.
“Although covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the virus is still circulating, changing and killing,” Tedros said Wednesday.
Hospitalizations have surged by 42%, and ICU admissions spiked by 62% from the prior month, based on data from under 50 countries, mainly in Europe and the Americas.
“It is certain that there are also increases in other countries that are not being reported,” he said.
On Thursday, the WHO said in an email that Russia appears to be reporting the most cases to the health body but stressed that “many countries have reduced or stopped reporting, which is part of the problem.”
According to the Washington Post, The JN.1 variant is now the most reported globally, and it seems more effective at infecting vaccinated or previously infected individuals.
Tedros said, “Although 10,000 deaths a month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this level of preventable death is not acceptable.” He is urging governments to continue close surveillance and to provide people with vaccines and treatments.
Maria Van Kerkhove, technical leader at the WHO for covid-19, said Wednesday that other respiratory infections around the world are also on the rise and trends are expected to continue into January.
“This year, particularly in the northern hemisphere, we are seeing close circulation of many different types of pathogens,” she said, citing influenza, rhinovirus and bacteria like mycoplasma pneumonia. Van Kerkhove said that with the world opening back up during the coronavirus pandemic, “these viruses, these bacteria, which pass effectively between people through the air, take advantage.”
WHO advises taking precautions like testing, vaccination, mask-wearing, and improving indoor ventilation to curb the spread of COVID-19.
According to Michael Ryan, head of emergencies at the WHO, “The vaccines may not stop you being infected, but the vaccines are certainly reducing significantly your chance of being hospitalized or dying.”
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