Coronavirus Pandemic ’is Accelerating’ - WHO
![Coronavirus Pandemic ’is Accelerating’ - WHO](https://english.alahednews.com.lb/uploaded2/images/20200619224758.jpg)
By Staff, Agencies
The coronavirus pandemic is now in a "new and dangerous phase", the World Health Organization [WHO] said Friday, with the disease accelerating at the same time as people tire of lockdowns.
This made WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urge nations and citizens to remain extremely vigilant, as the number of cases reported to the UN health agency hit a new peak.
"The pandemic is accelerating. More than 150,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHO yesterday - the most in a single day so far," Tedros told a virtual press conference.
He said almost half of those cases were reported from the Americas, with large numbers also being reported from South Asia and the Middle East.
"The world is in a new and dangerous phase. Many people are understandably fed up with being at home. Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and economies," the WHO chief said.
"But the virus is still spreading fast, it's still deadly and most people are still susceptible," he noted, with the most vulnerable set to suffer the worst.
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 454,000 people and infected more than 8.5 million since the outbreak began in China late last year, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
Italy's top health agency urged caution Friday after last week seeing "warning signs" of new coronavirus transmission, especially over outbreaks of cases in Rome.
WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said countries needed to be on alert for second waves of infection - and second peaks within the first wave if it is not properly suppressed.
"You may have a second peak within your first wave, and then you may have a second wave: it's not either or," the Irish epidemiologist said.
While increased numbers of confirmed cases could be down to improved testing, he said unexpected rising hospitalization and death figures were a better indicator of a resurgence.
"Exiting lockdowns must be done carefully," he said.
"If you don't know where the virus is, the chances are that the virus will surprise you."
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