‘Covid-19 pandemic is not over yet’ warns WHO amid rising cases of Omicron XBB variant

World Health Organization (WHO) officials warned on Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over yet and that the continued emergence of subvariants “risks a resurgence and overwhelming health systems.”

Speaking to reporters, Babatunde Olowokure, WHO Director of Health Security and Emergencies for the Western Pacific, said Singapore and New Zealand are experiencing a resurgence of new cases, while the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, He said the number of infected people in Vietnam continues to rise. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths have declined since August, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

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Olowokure also said that while circulation of the Omicron XBB subvariant has spurred a surge in Singapore, BA.5 remains the dominant variant in New Zealand.

“Singapore has reimposed public health safety measures, including limiting visitors to hospitals and nursing homes,” he said.

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The Western Pacific region has confirmed more than 92 million Covid-19 cases, including more than 270,000 deaths, since the emergence of the highly contagious and deadly disease in 2020, according to WHO data. increase.

Olowokure said the decline in cases in some countries was due to “relatively high vaccination coverage,” but cautioned against falling regionally and globally reported cases. He urged people to continue, adding that the coronavirus continues to circulate in the region.