The South Asia Times report

GENEVA (TSAT) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that over 18 million COVID-19 cases reported last week and warned “the pandemic is far from over”.

During briefing to reporters, the WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said that death numbers in the new omicron variant remain stable, however the new virus spreading in many countries.

“I remain particularly concerned about many countries that have low vaccination rates, as people are many times more at risk of severe illness and death if they’re unvaccinated”, Tedros said in a statement published on News UN.

Its said that omicron may be less severe, but for the WHO chief “the narrative that it is mild disease is misleading, hurts the overall response and costs more lives.”

Tedros noted that the virus is circulating “far too intensely with many still vulnerable” and argued that, for many countries, the next few weeks remain critical.

“Vaccines may be less effective at preventing infection and transmission of Omicron than they were for previous variants, but they still are exceptionally good at preventing serious disease and death”, he explained.

According to WHO chief, over the the UN-backed COVAX facility delivered its one-billionth dose of vaccine.

He warned that despite ongoing efforts the world can enter “a second and even more destructive phase of vaccine inequity”, if it doesn’t change course.

New treatments

Last Friday, WHO recommended two new COVID-19 treatmentsto fight severe illness and death: a rheumatoid arthritis drug called baricitinib and a monoclonal antibody called sotrovimab, according to the News UN.

For Tedros, the challenge, once again, is that high prices and limited supply means access is limited.

WHO is currently working with its partners in ACT-Accelerator to negotiate lower prices with manufacturers and ensure supply will be available for low- and middle-income countries.