Thread by @mvankerkhove

Millions have died from #COVID19 since the start of this pandemic and 15000 are still dying each week.

15000 mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, friends… people we love.

I know we are tired, but when did this become acceptable?

A short thread…

Globally, over the last 4 weeks, 26,722,228 new cases and 62,892 new deaths were reported to @WHO. That’s a 15% ⬆️ in new cases & a +35% ⬆️ in new deaths over the reporting period.

We expect cases to continue to occur given the limited use of public health and social measures🌎, but #COVID19 hospitalisations, deaths & #LongCovid can be minimised.

Efforts need to be made to strengthen the use of life saving interventions. We can do this AND live our lives.

Omicron #BA5 is the dominant circulating variant of concern right now. However, reduced surveillance, testing & sequencing globally is making our ability to track known & detect new variants much more difficult.

Details of #Omicron subvariants ⬇️

There will be more variants with such intense circulation. This virus does not yet have a seasonality or act predictably.

Future variants will be more transmissible, may have further immune escape but we do not know if they will be more or less severe.

who.int/activities/tra…

Lives can be saved now with early testing, the right clinical care & treatments and vaccination administered by trained, protected & respected work force. Vaccination amongst those most at risk in all countries is not as high as it should be. #VaccinEquity is not just a hashtag.

Infections and risk of #LongCovid can be reduced with simple measures.

COVID-19 vaccines are working incredibly well at preventing severe disease. Get vaccinated and get all recommended doses when it’s your turn.

Governments need to focus on reaching at missed risk people.

I may be away with my family at the moment, but #COVID19 is never out of my mind.

There is no zero risk but we can live our lives while taking simple measures: get vaccinated with all recommended doses; wear a mask while indoors, spend time outdoors,ventilate, test, seek care.

My family and many others globally are fortunate to have access to life saving tools. Not all families do. We must continue to fight for #VaccinEquity and access to affordable and reliable tests and treatments.

There is more work to do.