In the context of the global number of Covid-19 cases tending to increase sharply again, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned, the world still cannot escape this pandemic.
At a press conference held in Geneva on March 18, responding to a reporter's question about when to predict when Covid-19 would end, WHO spokeswoman, Dr. Margaret Harris, said: "The pandemic is far from over. It's just ended. We're clearly in the middle of a pandemic."
Previously, WHO had predicted, the acute phase of Covid-19 could end this year, but it depends on how quickly the world can reach the goal of immunizing at least 70% of the population in all. countries or not.
Margaret Harris's comments came not long after the WHO warned that the number of global Covid-19 cases is rapidly increasing again despite the decrease in testing, leading to an increase in the number of deaths.
After more than a month of decline, the number of global Covid-19 cases began to increase last week, especially in Europe and Asia. According to WHO data, the number of new global infections increased by 8% from the previous week, with 11 million cases and more than 43,000 new deaths reported between March 7 and March 13. Many experts say that Europe may have entered a new wave of infections.
WHO believes that this situation is caused by many factors such as Omicron, which has a high transmissibility, and the BA.2 sub-strain, which is gradually predominating in many places and countries loosening or completely lifting social distancing measures. , epidemic prevention.
"The number of new cases globally is increasing rapidly, although testing in some countries is not as high as before. This means that the cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg," said the Director-General. WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, and warned countries to remain vigilant.
The Covid-19 pandemic started at the end of 2019 and has so far killed more than 6 million people. Most experts believe that Covid-19 could become endemic by the end of the year thanks to the Covid-19 vaccination program. However, they also emphasized, Covid-19 will never go away and more dangerous new strains may still appear. Therefore, experts recommend that countries should not neglect epidemic prevention measures, need to continue to increase vaccine coverage in the population.
Antonella Viola, professor of immunology at the University of Padua, Italy, commented: "I agree with the easing of restrictions because we cannot consider this an emergency after two years. However, after two years. , the world cannot assume that Covid-19 has disappeared. It is necessary to maintain strict measures, continuously monitor new cases, wear masks in enclosed spaces or crowded places."
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