'Spread of deadly infection, 1700 deaths globally every week', WHO warns
According to a WHO statement dated July 15, SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent positivity increased from 5.6 to 7.1% during the four-week reporting period.
New Delhi: US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday with mild symptoms, the White House said. Following the development ahead of the presidential election in the USA, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned the public that “Covid is not over yet”. The WHO says the deadly infection is still widespread, killing 1,700 people worldwide every week.
Top health agencies have asked people to take basic precautions, including vaccines, masks and testing.
According to a WHO statement dated July 15, SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent positivity increased from 5.6 to 7.1% during the four-week reporting period from May 27 to June 23, 2024. During this period, an average of 16888 samples were tested. for SARS-CoV-2 each week.
KP.3 and LB.1, both descendants of JN.1 and variants under surveillance (VUMs), have shown increasing prevalence globally.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a warning that vaccination rates among health professionals and people over 60, two demographics most at risk of dying from COVID, are falling alarmingly.
“WHO recommends that people in the highest risk groups receive the Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of their last dose,” Tedros said.
WHO has received reports of nearly seven million Covid-19 deaths. However, the actual death toll from the epidemic is believed to be much higher. Tedros declared the end of the Covid-19 international public health emergency in May 2023.
