The World Health Organization said that the fresh waves of new COVID-19 cases recorded globally indicate that the pandemic is nowhere near over.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the virus is running freely due to relaxed restrictions.
“New waves of the virus demonstrate again that COVID-19 is nowhere near over. As the virus pushes at us, we must push back,” Tedros said.
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“The virus is running freely and countries are not effectively managing the disease burden based on their capacity, in terms of both hospitalization for acute cases and the expanding number of people with post-COVID condition, often referred to as Long COVID,” he added.
The WHO also urged governments to implement health protocols including masking and improved testing protocols.
“As COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations rise, governments must also deploy tried and tested measures like masking, improved ventilation and test and treat protocols,” Tedros insisted.
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The WHO said that COVID-19 remains as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the highest level of alarm being issued by the WHO.
The WHO said that the changes in testing protocols also changed.
“This impedes assessments of currently circulating and emerging variants of the virus,” the WHO said.
