<p>Cases of&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;have plummeted in&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN said Thursday.</p>

<p>Describing the 56-day flareup as&nbsp;Africa's "shortest upsurge yet," the World Health Organization's African regional office said newly reported cases fell by 20 per cent in the week to Sunday, while notified deaths dropped by eight per cent.</p>

<p>In a statement issued after a weekly press briefing, the office also said South&nbsp;Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, had seen cases trending downward over the past four weeks.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-to-distribute-400-million-covid-n95-masks-for-free-445957">Also Read:&nbsp;US government to distribute 400 million Covid N95 masks for free</a></p>

<p>Only North&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;reported an increase in cases last week, "with a 55 per cent spike", it said.</p>

<p>Matshidiso Moeti, the&nbsp;WHO's regional director for&nbsp;Africa, warned however: "The continent has yet to turn the tables&nbsp;on&nbsp;this pandemic. So long as the virus continues to circulate, further pandemic waves are inevitable."</p>

<p>She said the world's poorest continent should "not only broaden vaccinations, but also gain increased and equitable access to critical&nbsp;Covid-19 therapeutics to save lives and effectively combat this pandemic.”</p>

<p>Only 10 per cent of the African population are fully vaccinated, according to the&nbsp;WHO.</p>

<p>The continent, with a population of 1.2 billion, has been relatively unscathed by the pandemic, reporting 234,913 deaths from 10.5 million cases, according to AFP tallies.</p>


Cases of COVID-19 have plummeted in Africa and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN said Thursday.

Cases of COVID-19 have plummeted in Africa and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN said Thursday. Describing the 56-day flareup as Africa's "shortest upsurge yet," the World Health Organization's African regional office said newly reported cases fell by 20 per cent in the week to Sunday, while notified deaths dropped by eight per cent. In a statement issued after a weekly press briefing, the office also said South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, had seen cases trending downward over the past four weeks. Also Read: US government to distribute 400 million Covid N95 masks for free Only North Africa reported an increase in cases last week, "with a 55 per cent spike", it said. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa, warned however: "The continent has yet to turn the tables on this pandemic. So long as the virus continues to circulate, further pandemic waves are inevitable." She said the world's poorest continent should "not only broaden vaccinations, but also gain increased and equitable access to critical Covid-19 therapeutics to save lives and effectively combat this pandemic.” Only 10 per cent of the African population are fully vaccinated, according to the WHO. The continent, with a population of 1.2 billion, has been relatively unscathed by the pandemic, reporting 234,913 deaths from 10.5 million cases, according to AFP tallies.

COVID-19 cases plummeting in Africa first time since Omicron wave: WHO

<p>As the Omicron variant takes hold worldwide, the <strong>World Health Organisation</strong>(WHO) said that "no country can boost its way out of the pandemic".</p>

<p>"Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other precautions," WHO chief Tedros&nbsp;Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"No country can boost its way out of the [<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>] pandemic.<br />
And boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other precautions."-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a></p>
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1473673849329827859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The WHO chief's comments come as<strong> Israel </strong>announced those over 60 and health officials will be given the fourth jab amid&nbsp;rising Omicron threat in the country.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-puts-millions-under-lockdown-after-virus-outbreak-in-xian-city-439025">Also Read:&nbsp;China puts millions under lockdown after virus outbreak in Xi'an city</a></p>

<p>Several countries in Europe including the United States have pushed ahead with<strong> booster doses</strong> with virus cases surging worldwide after the Omicron variant was discovered last month.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"The global priority must be to support all countries to reach the 40% target as quickly as possible, and the 70% target by the middle of this year."-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> <a href="https://t.co/pou3Javg61">https://t.co/pou3Javg61</a></p>
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<p>Tedros said the UN health body is co-sponsoring the next generation of vaccines through the <strong>solidarity trial vaccines</strong>.</p>

<p>The WHO chief said the new vaccine was intended to ensure "greater protection against variants of concern with longer duration of protection and to assess vaccines that can be given without needles." Tedros said all countries are invited for the trial even as the research teams in Colombia, Mali and the Philippines have already begun recruiting volunteers.</p>

<p>"We must leave 2021 behind with sorrow, and look forward to 2022 in hope," Tedros said, adding, "2022 must be the end of the <strong>pandemic</strong>."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas: How Vaccine Makers could profit from boosters and variants</strong></p>

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<p>The virus cases continue to surge in Europe as the French government declared that the statistical&nbsp;model showed the country could face over 100,000 COVID-19 daily cases by end December with the Omicron variant accounting for 20 per cent of new cases with capital <strong>Paris </strong>being the worst-hit.</p>

<p>French health minister Olivier Veran warned that "no country will be spared" from the Omicron variant while adding that "Omicron is very contagious".</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>


As the Omicron variant takes hold worldwide, the World Health Organisation(WHO) said that "no country can boost its way out of the pandemic". "Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other precautions," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

As the Omicron variant takes hold worldwide, the World Health Organisation(WHO) said that "no country can boost its way out of the pandemic". "Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other precautions," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "No country can boost its way out of the [#COVID19] pandemic. And boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations, without the need for other precautions."-@DrTedros — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 22, 2021 × The WHO chief's comments come as Israel announced those over 60 and health officials will be given the fourth jab amid rising Omicron threat in the country. Also Read: China puts millions under lockdown after virus outbreak in Xi'an city Several countries in Europe including the United States have pushed ahead with booster doses with virus cases surging worldwide after the Omicron variant was discovered last month. "The global priority must be to support all countries to reach the 40% target as quickly as possible, and the 70% target by the middle of this year."-@DrTedros https://t.co/pou3Javg61 — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 22, 2021 × Tedros said the UN health body is co-sponsoring the next generation of vaccines through the solidarity trial vaccines. The WHO chief said the new vaccine was intended to ensure "greater protection against variants of concern with longer duration of protection and to assess vaccines that can be given without needles." Tedros said all countries are invited for the trial even as the research teams in Colombia, Mali and the Philippines have already begun recruiting volunteers. "We must leave 2021 behind with sorrow, and look forward to 2022 in hope," Tedros said, adding, "2022 must be the end of the pandemic." Watch | Gravitas: How Vaccine Makers could profit from boosters and variants The virus cases continue to surge in Europe as the French government declared that the statistical model showed the country could face over 100,000 COVID-19 daily cases by end December with the Omicron variant accounting for 20 per cent of new cases with capital Paris being the worst-hit. French health minister Olivier Veran warned that "no country will be spared" from the Omicron variant while adding that "Omicron is very contagious". (With inputs from Agencies)

Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead, says WHO chief Tedros amid Omicron threat

<p>As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-bangladesh-sri-lanka-nearly-out-of-covid-vaccines-say-officials-386537"><strong>World Health Organization's</strong></a>(WHO)&nbsp;assistant director-general Samira Asma said worldwide death toll "would truly be two to three times higher".</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bharat-biotechs-suchitra-ella-confident-on-vaccine-production-commitments-386549/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"So I think safely about 6 to 8 million deaths could be an estimate on a cautionary note," Asma said, adding,"the total deaths are at least two to three times higher than officially reported.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This aligns with similar estimates which all predict that the total deaths are at least two to three times higher than officially reported," the top WHO official added.</p>

<p>The World Health Organization is set to organize the 74th <strong>World Health Assembly</strong> next week amid the pandemic even as several member states are battling the virus with some&nbsp;countries in lockdown.</p>

<p>"Preliminary estimates for global excess deaths attributable to <strong>COVID-19</strong> for 2020 stands at three million, which is 1.2 million more than official figures that were reported until December 2020," Asma said while stating that, "most countries do well in registering births, only 40 per cent of the world's nations register at least 90 per cent of deaths that occur." &nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, WHO chief Tedros&nbsp;Adhanom said that 13,000 people around the world lost their lives to coronavirus which is "9 every single minute."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"People will continue to die as long as the global disparity in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/swipe-right-on-vaccinations-white-house-collaborates-with-tinders-parent-company-386555"><strong>vaccines</strong></a> persists," the WHO chief said.</p>

<p>According to Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource centre the total worldwide death toll due to the virus currently stands at over 3,432,517 million including 165,622,040 fatalities.</p>

<p>The US has been the hardest-hit country due to the virus with over 33 million cases and 588,548 deaths.</p>


As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, World Health Organization's(WHO) assistant director-general Samira Asma said worldwide death toll "would truly be two to three times higher".

As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, World Health Organization's(WHO) assistant director-general Samira Asma said worldwide death toll "would truly be two to three times higher". Watch: "So I think safely about 6 to 8 million deaths could be an estimate on a cautionary note," Asma said, adding,"the total deaths are at least two to three times higher than officially reported.” "This aligns with similar estimates which all predict that the total deaths are at least two to three times higher than officially reported," the top WHO official added. The World Health Organization is set to organize the 74th World Health Assembly next week amid the pandemic even as several member states are battling the virus with some countries in lockdown. "Preliminary estimates for global excess deaths attributable to COVID-19 for 2020 stands at three million, which is 1.2 million more than official figures that were reported until December 2020," Asma said while stating that, "most countries do well in registering births, only 40 per cent of the world's nations register at least 90 per cent of deaths that occur." Meanwhile, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom said that 13,000 people around the world lost their lives to coronavirus which is "9 every single minute." "People will continue to die as long as the global disparity in vaccines persists," the WHO chief said. According to Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource centre the total worldwide death toll due to the virus currently stands at over 3,432,517 million including 165,622,040 fatalities. The US has been the hardest-hit country due to the virus with over 33 million cases and 588,548 deaths.

Total COVID-19 deaths at least two to three times higher than officially reported: WHO official

<p>As the vaccination drive against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/vitamin-d-reduces-coronavirus-mortality-rate-study-356111">coronavirus</a> gathers pace across the world, the World Health Organization(WHO) has warned that herd immunity will not be reached this year.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/aussie-doctor-invents-at-home-covid-19-test-356156/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>WHO’s chief scientist <strong>Soumya Swaminathan</strong> said: “We are not going to achieve any levels of population immunity or&nbsp;herd immunity&nbsp;in 2021.” &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Even if happens in a couple of pockets in a few countries, it's not going to protect people across the world," she added.</p>

<p>Swaminathan said best practices relating to the virus should be observed which includes hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks.</p>

<p>The <strong>WHO</strong> scientist said it takes time to "scale the production of doses, not just in the millions, but here we are talking about in the billions" while assuring that the "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/first-flight-of-coronavirus-vaccine-covishield-flown-to-delhi-356150">vaccines</a> are going to come. They are going to go to all countries.”</p>

<p>“But meanwhile we mustn’t forget that there are measures that work.”</p>

<p>WHO senior adviser Bruce Aylward said: "Over 40 countries have now begun <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-steps-up-vaccinations-as-coronavirus-cases-surge-worst-weeks-still-to-come-356014">vaccinating</a> against COVID-19 using five different COVID-19 vaccines. However, all of that vaccination or virtually all of it were in high income and upper-middle-income countries so far."</p>

<p>"We require the cooperation of vaccine manufacturers to prioritise deliveries to the COVAX facility, we require the cooperation of our financers to see through the financing necessary, and we require the cooperation."</p>

<p>As the new virus variant surfaced in Tokyo, WHO chief <strong>Tedros</strong> Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that as the virus spreads, there is higher the chance of a new change to the virus.</p>

<p>"Transmissibility of some variants of the virus appears to be increasing," Tedros informed.</p>


As the vaccination drive against coronavirus gathers pace across the world, the World Health Organization(WHO) has warned that herd immunity will not be reached this year.

As the vaccination drive against coronavirus gathers pace across the world, the World Health Organization(WHO) has warned that herd immunity will not be reached this year. Watch: WHO’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said: “We are not going to achieve any levels of population immunity or herd immunity in 2021.” "Even if happens in a couple of pockets in a few countries, it's not going to protect people across the world," she added. Swaminathan said best practices relating to the virus should be observed which includes hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks. The WHO scientist said it takes time to "scale the production of doses, not just in the millions, but here we are talking about in the billions" while assuring that the "vaccines are going to come. They are going to go to all countries.” “But meanwhile we mustn’t forget that there are measures that work.” WHO senior adviser Bruce Aylward said: "Over 40 countries have now begun vaccinating against COVID-19 using five different COVID-19 vaccines. However, all of that vaccination or virtually all of it were in high income and upper-middle-income countries so far." "We require the cooperation of vaccine manufacturers to prioritise deliveries to the COVAX facility, we require the cooperation of our financers to see through the financing necessary, and we require the cooperation." As the new virus variant surfaced in Tokyo, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that as the virus spreads, there is higher the chance of a new change to the virus. "Transmissibility of some variants of the virus appears to be increasing," Tedros informed.

Herd immunity will not be reached in 2021 despite vaccines, says WHO's Soumya Swaminathan

<p>WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that he was “disappointed” with China as it hadn't finalised permissions for the arrival of the team which is set to investigate the origin of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-surge-continues-in-us-uk-despite-vaccine-roll-out-354678">coronavirus</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-attempts-to-rewrite-the-story-of-wuhan-with-a-party-353936/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“Today, we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalized the necessary permissions for the team’s arrival in China,” <strong>Tedros</strong> said, adding," I’m very disappointed with this news, given that two members had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute but had been in contact with senior Chinese officials."</p>

<p>WHO officials are already on the way to China to investigate the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-covid-19-lockdown-may-be-extended-till-march-minister-354624">virus </a>origin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are eager to get the mission underway as soon as possible,” Tedros asserted while adding that China had assured speeding up of internal procedure.</p>

<p>China had earlier said it would give the WHO's expert team full access to investigate the virus origin. China had informed the first case of the virus to the WHO on December 31, 2019, although some experts feel the virus had taken hold much earlier.</p>

<p>The virus which spread to every corner of the globe in 2020 has led to over 1.8 million fatalities worldwide and over 85 million cases.</p>


WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that he was “disappointed” with China as it hadn't finalised permissions for the arrival of the team which is set to investigate the origin of the coronavirus.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that he was “disappointed” with China as it hadn't finalised permissions for the arrival of the team which is set to investigate the origin of the coronavirus. Watch: “Today, we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalized the necessary permissions for the team’s arrival in China,” Tedros said, adding," I’m very disappointed with this news, given that two members had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute but had been in contact with senior Chinese officials." WHO officials are already on the way to China to investigate the virus origin. “We are eager to get the mission underway as soon as possible,” Tedros asserted while adding that China had assured speeding up of internal procedure. China had earlier said it would give the WHO's expert team full access to investigate the virus origin. China had informed the first case of the virus to the WHO on December 31, 2019, although some experts feel the virus had taken hold much earlier. The virus which spread to every corner of the globe in 2020 has led to over 1.8 million fatalities worldwide and over 85 million cases.

Disappointed with China over delayed access to virus investigation team: WHO chief Tedros

World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a roll out of 120 million rapid-diagnostic tests to help low- and middle-income countries.

WHO to roll out 120 mn rapid-diagnostic tests for low and middle-income countries