Rabat – New daily cases of COVID-19 and related deaths continue to decline worldwide, with only Africa dn the Americas seeing minor increases. Despite the emergence of two new subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, in South Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) remains largely positive about the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccination remains key as a means to defend against new mutations of the virus. During this week’s COVID-19 press briefing, the WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recommended that governments vaccinate “at least 70% of the population of every country, including 100% of the most at-risk groups.”
While vaccines are now commonly available, Dr Tedros warns that “a combination of lack of political commitment, operational capacity problems, financial constraints and hesitancy due to misinformation and disinformation is limiting demand for vaccines.”
In order to stay ahead of any new variants of the virus, the WHO continues to emphasize the importance of testing.
The high level of testing and sequencing in South Africa led to the discovery of new subvariants, yet many countries have already stopped such research. “In many countries we’re essentially blind to how the virus is mutating,” the WHO chief warned, adding that “we don’t know what’s coming next.”
The WHO Director-General further highlighted the fact that many vaccines and treatments remain out of reach for most people across the world. “We’re playing with a fire that continues to burn us,” he stated, highlighting that “meanwhile, manufacturers are posting record profits.”
Dr Tedros stated that his organization “supports fair reward for innovation but we cannot accept prices that make life-saving treatments available to the rich and out of reach for the poor.” The WHO chief described this ongoing dynamic as “a moral failing.”
In Morocco, health officials are set to gauge the impact of increased contact between family members due to the holy month of Ramadan and its concluding festival Eid Al FItr. So far, cases remain fairly stable, with 67 new cases reported on Friday, with 301 active cases remaining in the country.
