GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged nations who are lifting Covid-19 safeguards to do so gradually and steadily, citing new data showing a dramatic spike in coronavirus-related mortality worldwide.
"Nearly 90 million cases have been reported to the WHO since the Omicron variant was initially identified barely ten weeks ago, more than were reported in the entire year of 2020. In most parts of the world, we are now witnessing an alarming spike in deaths "Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, said at a press conference.
He expressed his concern about the narrative gaining traction in some nations that "preventing transmission is no longer practicable and no longer required" due to vaccines and Omicron's high transmissibility and lesser severity. "More deaths result from increased transmission. We are not advocating for a return to so-called "lockdown" in any country. However, we urge all governments to safeguard their citizens with all available tools, not just vaccines "he stated
Van Kerkhove advocated caution in response to news that certain governments had begun to ease their Covid-19 limitations, stating that "many countries have not yet reached the top of Omicron" and that "now is not the time to lift everything all at once." She advised such countries to do so "slowly and steadily, piece by piece," due to the virus's dynamic nature.
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