Thread by @mvankerkhove

I’m struggling with how best to stress how fragile the global situation is, so I’ll be blunt:

Each week >2.6 million cases and >53,000 deaths are reported to @WHO

Reported, meaning that there are many others.

Stop and think about that.

(Short thread⬇️)

Compared to last week, there has been about (exact % will be shared in tomorrow @WHO sit rep):
➡️ 15% increases in cases in @WHOAFRO
➡️ 29% increase in @WHO_Europe (last week was 10%⬆️)
➡️ 14% increase in @WHOEMRO
➡️ 7% increased in @WHOSEARO
➡️ 10% increase in @WHOWPRO

There are also increasing trends in deaths in @WHOAFRO, @WHOEMRO, @WHO_Europe & @WHOWPRO.

Every death is a person—a parent, a grandparent, a son, a daughter, a friend—people who are loved, cherished, treasured.

The loss is unbearable. These losses are preventable.

The situation is getting worse, not better. There are >20 countries with exponential growth in cases right now…. in all regions of the world. This is not theoretical. This is happening right now.

There are too many countries that are struggling to regain control over COVID-19.

Globally, cases are increase in, due to several factors, including variants of #SARSCoV2 (latest is #Delta but there will be more), ⬆️social mixing & social mobility, inconsistent & unsupported PHSM, & inequitable vaccination.

We have tools, we have a global plan. We don’t have consistent policies globally—based on data and regular analyses—that are targeted, agile, time bound; that support people in keeping themselves & others safe.

Use of PHSM does not mean “lockdown”. It means having policies in place to lower risks every day. Surveillance, testing, supported health workers, training, adequate PPE, O2, 😷, 🤚🧼, avoid 3Cs, improved ventilation, vaccination (for those lucky enough to be offered one), etc.

We don’t have equitable distribution of tests, of treatments, of PPE, of vaccines… this is inexcusable bc this is fixable. There are solutions, partners, financing to solve this problem…but the world is not collectively doing enough to address this.

#COVAX #ACTogether @WHO

The pandemic is not over.

Be smart, play it safe.
@WHO who.int

… Latest @WHO sit rep on #COVID19:

↗️Global/regional trends in cases/deaths
➡️Updated VOI/VOC definitions (reflecting feedback since original pub in Feb)
↗️latest geographic distribution of VOCs… #Delta in 104 countries; alpha in 122
…and more ⬇️