WHO warns of rising Covid-19 cases, risk of more severe variant

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday of a rise in Covid-19 cases globally, saying they were “unlikely” to decline in the short term, and of the risk of a more severe variant emerging.

“Covid-19 remains widespread,” Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic prevention, said at a press conference, noting that the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is circulating in all countries.

According to a North American epidemiologist, new waves of infection have been recorded in Europe, America and the western Pacific Ocean.

According to WHO, wastewater monitoring shows that SARS-CoV-2 circulation is 2 to 20 times higher than documented figures.

Maria Van Kerkhove reminded that as the virus evolves and spreads, there is a risk of a more serious strain emerging that could escape detection systems and not respond to medical intervention.

“I’m concerned,” she said, adding that if a more virulent variant were in circulation, “the susceptibility of the population to developing serious disease would be enormous” given low vaccination coverage.

WHO is calling on governments to step up vaccination campaigns, ensuring that those most at risk receive a dose of Covid-19 vaccine at least once a year to reduce the risk of serious illness.

The World Health Organization regrets that the availability of vaccines has significantly decreased over the past year and a half, given the reduction in the number of manufacturers.

Covid-19 is a pandemic respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which was discovered in late 2019 in China and quickly spread throughout the rest of the world, taking on several variants, some more contagious than others.

The vaccines in circulation mostly prevent serious illness but not infection.

As of May 2023, Covid-19 is no longer an international public health emergency.