The number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases worldwide exceeded 300 million yesterday, Thursday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, while the deaths due to complications of COVID-19 have reached 5,472,263.
The United States, where 58,449,898 new coronavirus infections have been reported and 833,957 people have lost their lives, remains the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the world. The numbers they account for represent more than 19% of cases and more than 15% of deaths worldwide.
The number of cases worldwide exceeded 100 million on January 26, 2021; it reached 200 million on August 4.
Omicron’s disease is less severe but not mild
The most contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to cause less serious illness than the world-leading Delta strain, but should not be categorized as “mild,” the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said.
Speaking to reporters, Tentros General Manager Antanom Gebregesous also reiterated his call for greater equality worldwide in the distribution and access of vaccines.
Based on the current rate of vaccine growth, 109 countries will miss the WHO target of having 70% of the world’s population fully vaccinated by July, the Center added. This target is thought to help end the acute phase of the pandemic.
Another variant – marked IHU and first recorded in September 2021 – is among those monitored by the WHO but not widely circulated, said Maria van Kerkov, WHO technical director for COVID-19.
There are two other major categories that the WHO uses to track variants: https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants “concern variant”, including Delta and Omicron, and “variant of interest”.
Speaking at the same briefing from Geneva, WHO adviser Bruce Ellward said 36 countries had not even reached 10% of vaccination coverage. Among patients with serious illness worldwide, 80% were unvaccinated, he added.
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