We @WHO recognise the tremendous desire to move on from #COVID19, the difficulties to keep fighting & the enormous toll this has taken on our lives.
However, the pandemic will end with our actions & we have the power to take the death and devastation out of COVID.
Short🧵
However, the pandemic will end with our actions & we have the power to take the death and devastation out of COVID.
Short🧵
There are alot of questions about what’s going on with #COVID19 so let’s break it down…
First, #Omicron is still spreading at a very intense level and we are starting to see an increase in cases after a few weeks of decline (this is despite big reductions in testing)
First, #Omicron is still spreading at a very intense level and we are starting to see an increase in cases after a few weeks of decline (this is despite big reductions in testing)
Increasing cases will occur where measures are lifted even in the context of high vaccination coverage—this shouldn’t be a surprise as vaccines are incredibly effective at reducing severe disease and death, but not infections
Note the significant regional differences in trends👇
Note the significant regional differences in trends👇
Omicron (including BA.1 and BA.2) is dominant globally and it is highly transmissible. Among the 430,487 sequences uploaded to @GISAID with specimens collected in the last 30 days, 99.9% were Omicron.
Mortality is still far too high. This is driven by intense spread, low vaccination coverage in at risk groups (eg >60 year olds, people with underlying conditions), gross inequity and lack of access for many across Africa & huge amounts of misinformation. #VaccinEquity @WHO
Even in areas with high population coverage it’s critical to ensure key risk groups reach 100% vaccination coverage. Take a closer look at vaccination rates among >60s in some areas with high mortality during omicron (or delta). Vaccine campaigns need to reach those most at risk.
Here’s the good news: we have tools that can reduce the spread & save lives now. Given all of the tremendous global challenges we face, #COVID19 has solutions
We can save many lives right now & reduce the risk of future variants with access and rational use of life saving tools
We can save many lives right now & reduce the risk of future variants with access and rational use of life saving tools
Each country is facing a different situation with a unique set of challenges, but the pandemic is not over. We must remain vigilant & continue to vaccinate, test, sequence,care for patients, protect our health workers, ventilate,adapt & adjust population interventions as needed.
We need strong surveillance to detect #SARSCoV2 variants so that globally we can adjust interventions as needed. Now is the time to enhance the systems we put in place for #COVID19, not dismantle them.
We can do this. We must.
@WHO
We can do this. We must.
@WHO
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