The World Health Organisation, on Wednesday, warned that the Coronavirus disease remains a major threat despite partially passing under the radar, adding that almost 10,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported in December. “Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the virus is still circulating, changing and killing,” the UN health agency’s chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said. Besides the near 10,000 deaths reported to the WHO last month, there was a 42 per cent increase in hospitalisations and a 62 per cent increase in intensive care unit admissions, compared with November. However, the figures are based on data from less than 50 countries — mostly in Europe and the Americas, Tedros said. The WHO chief noted, “Just as governments and individuals take precautions against other diseases, we must all continue to take precautions against Covid-19.

Source: Punch January 11, 2024 00:46 UTC