Maria Van Kerkhove, Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention of the World Health Organization (WHO), made an assessment of the Covid-19 outbreak at the weekly press conference of the UN Geneva Office.
TEST POSITIVITY INCREASED
Noting that Covid-19 is still widespread around the world, Kerkhove said, “Data from our surveillance system in 84 countries reports that the percentage of positive tests for Covid-19 has been increasing over the last few weeks. Overall, test positivity is above 10 percent, but this varies by region. In Europe, the percentage positivity is above 20 percent.”
Kerkhove said the circulation of COVID-19 is much higher than currently reported, adding, “This is important because the virus continues to evolve and change. This puts us all at risk of a potentially more severe virus that could evade our detection or our medical interventions, including vaccination.”
Drawing attention to the increase in Covid-19 cases in many countries in recent months, regardless of the season, Kerkhove noted that at least 40 athletes competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held in France also tested positive for Covid-19.
Kerkhove emphasized that these fluctuations have caused increases in hospitalizations and deaths in many countries, and that countries must fight Covid-19 and invest in coping with its long-term effects.
WARNING ABOUT DECLINE IN VACCINATION
“We recommend that countries continue basic COVID-19 surveillance using multiple approaches, particularly to characterize circulating viruses and achieve key strategic goals for early detection and clinical care of patients,” Kerkhove said, calling on countries to increase reporting on COVID-19-related hospitalizations, intensive care admissions, and deaths.
Kerkhove noted that in 2024, 35 countries reported data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, 24 countries reported data on intensive care admissions and 70 countries reported data on deaths.
Kerkhove, who emphasized that especially those in risk groups should receive a booster dose, said, “We have seen a worrying decline in vaccination over the last two years, especially among healthcare workers and people over the age of 60, two of the most at-risk groups. This situation urgently needs to be reversed.” (AA)