WHO: Wave of new crown infections still ahead, calls for vaccination push

Read Time:3 Minute, 10 Second

Promote vaccination to control the spread of the virus

The latest data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sept. 16 shows that the cumulative number of confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia worldwide reached 6,083,28548 cases and 65,014,669 deaths. For the upcoming autumn and winter epidemic situation, WHO recently said that the future global wave of new coronavirus infections will still occur, and countries must be prepared for any possible risk of outbreaks. Maria van Kerckhove, technical head of WHO’s health emergency program, said that the new coronavirus is still spreading at a high level around the world. “In fact, we know that the number of (neo-coron) cases reported (by countries) to WHO is underestimated. We believe that the actual number of cases is much higher than what is reported.” Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO’s health emergencies program, also said that even though the momentum of the New Coronavirus pandemic is waning, countries must remain on high alert because the opponent is “a highly variable and still evolving virus.”

Recently, the epidemic has rebounded in some countries and regions, with a surge in serious illnesses and deaths. The latest data show that the U.S. has accumulated more than 95 million confirmed cases; from late August to early September, Japan added about 300 new deaths per day, the highest level since the outbreak began; the number of deaths due to infection with the new coronavirus in the U.K. this summer is twice as many as in the same period last year; France has accumulated more than 150,000 deaths; South Korea has accumulated more than 24 million confirmed cases and more than 27,000 cumulative deaths. Korea has more than 24 million confirmed cases and 27,000 cumulative deaths.

A recent analysis by the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Welfare Bureau in Japan showed that sequelae of New Coronavirus pneumonia are not related to age, presence or absence of underlying disease, or the degree of symptoms at the onset of infection, and that all infected individuals are at risk of developing sequelae. According to Chung-sik Yim, professor of infectious medicine at Gachon University Hospital in Korea, the lethality of the Omicron strain, although reduced, is far from being non-threatening. In addition, antiviral drugs have not reached the level of universal access to all patients, and there is no way to ensure that new mutant strains of new coronaviruses will not appear in the future.

In response to this critical situation, public health experts in many countries have called on governments to adhere to the prevention and control of the epidemic. WHO called on countries to develop targeted policies to promote vaccination, control the spread of the virus, and promote virus testing and sequencing to save more lives. South African virologist Barry Szkob said, “Vaccination remains the most effective way at the moment, while people should still wear masks in confined or indoor spaces to prevent the spread of the virus.”

Right now, governments are accelerating vaccination against the new crown. The Chilean Ministry of Health requires proof of New Crown vaccination and the wearing of masks and a safe social distance when attending large gatherings such as soccer games and concerts. Currently, 80% of people over the age of 18 across Chile have received their second dose of the New Crown vaccine. In the United Kingdom, a new round of New Crown vaccination began in early September in England and Scotland, with priority given to the elderly, nursing home workers, and people with weakened immune systems. The Vietnamese government recently issued a letter asking the Ministry of Health to urge and assist provinces and municipalities to accelerate the third and fourth doses of the New Crown vaccine for people over 12 years of age.