World Health Organization warns of rising coronavirus cases

Geneva, March 18 (RHC) -- The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned of the increase in coronavirus cases in recent days, and urged countries to "remain vigilant."

“After several weeks of declines, reported cases of COVID-19 are on the rise again around the world, especially in parts of Asia,” he noted. “These increases come despite reduced testing in some countries, meaning the cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg."

Tedros explained that local outbreaks and spikes are expected and will continue, especially in areas where measures to prevent transmission have been lifted.

In this regard, the WHO director called to continue vaccination plans, testing, tracing, and the implementation of "common sense" public health measures to protect health workers and the population.

Tedros recalled that the covid-19 pandemic is not over as there continue to be "unacceptably high" levels of mortality from the virus in many countries, especially where vaccination levels are low among susceptible populations.

Recently, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, reported that the rise in the number of cases is due to a "combination of factors" while specifying that the omicron variant is predominant, and is easily transmitted.

She also noted that the lifting of restrictions and removal of limits on movement have contributed to the further spread of the virus in recent days.

“The information that ómicron causes mild illness is misleading, and that is why we see cases increasing. We understand that the world has to move forward, but this virus spreads very efficiently, and without proper measures, the virus will continue to spread," she said.