World Health Organisation – WHO noted that the infection rate of the novel coronavirus at the global level had witnessed a decrease of 19%, previous week, while the death rate remained stable. 

The information was shared by the international health agency in its weekly report, as per which more than 16 million new COVID-19 infections and about 75,000 deaths were recorded in the last 7 days. 

WHO stated that only Western Pacific was the sole region that witnessed a rise in the COVID-19 infections, whereas the highest cases decline was recorded in Southeast Asia if around 37%. 

On the contrary, the death tally has witnessed an increase in the Middle East by 38%. The international health agency further noted that despite Omicron, all the other variants of the novel coronavirus has been fading worldwide. As of the new cases reported last week, 98% of them were of the Omicron variant. 

BA.2 version of Omicron is rising at a steady pace all around the world. In addition, in the countries who are having a high vaccination coverage rate, the hospitalizations and death rates have not witnessed an increase. 

WHO’s Africa director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, stated, “There was a at the end of the underpass for the continent and that even despite low COVID-19 vaccination rates, Africa was transitioning from the critical pandemic phase of COVID-19“.  

Meanwhile, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been continuously urging the countries to expand their COVID-19 vaccination rate so as to beat the deadliest pandemic. He has been continuously reminding the world about the pandemic, noting it is not over yet and that it is premature for countries to think that the end might be imminent.