Virus Variants, Vaccine Inequity Contribute to Rising COVID-19 Caseload - WHO

By Staff, Agencies

COVID-19 global cases are on the rise for a fourth consecutive week after six weeks of declining in the first two months this year, said World Health Organization [WHO] Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Speaking at a regular press briefing in Geneva, Tedros showed his concerns for the mutated strains of coronavirus, the loosened epidemic control measures and inequitable vaccination around the world.

"After six weeks of declining cases in January and February, we're now on track for a fourth consecutive week of increasing cases. For the moment, the number of deaths is still declining, but at a slower rate. Cases are increasing in most regions. These are worrying trends as we continue to see the impact of variants, opening up of societies and inequitable vaccine rollout," he said.

The WHO coronavirus dashboard showed that the global case count and death toll reached 121,464,666 and 2,684,093, respectively, as of 15:44 CET on Friday.