20% rise in COVID-19 cases last week as Omicron spread slows

SWITZERLAND, SPAIN, UK: The number of new coronavirus cases globally rose by 20 per cent last week to more than 18 million, marking a slowdown in the surge caused by the Omicron variant’s spread, according to the World Health Organization.

In its weekly report on the pandemic, the UN health agency said the number of new COVID-19 infections increased in every world region except for Africa, where cases fell by nearly a third. The number of deaths globally remained similar to the previous week, at about 45,000.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped by about 50 per cent the week before last, and earlier this month, WHO reported the biggest single-week increase in cases of the pandemic.

The WHO said in its report issued late Tuesday that Southeast Asia had the biggest rise in coronavirus cases last week, with the number of newly infected people spiking by 145%. The Middle East saw a 68% weekly rise.

The smallest increases were noted in the Americas and Europe, at 17% and 10% respectively. Scientists said last week there were early signs in the U.S. and Britain that Omicron-driven outbreaks may have peaked in those countries and that cases could soon fall off sharply.

Meanwhile, Spain is spearheading calls for Governments to start tackling COVID-19 as any other endemic respiratory virus like seasonal flu, despite WHO opposition and warnings that the approach is premature.

With Governments and populations worldwide desperate for an end to the pandemic, discussion about when the virus might be reclassified has intensified.

Spain is in a good position to open the debate, having one of the world’s highest vaccination rates with 90.5 per cent of its population over the age of 12 fully immunised.

Spain’s left-wing government has been a prominent advocate of reclassifying Covid as an endemic disease with milder seasonal outbreaks that humanity can live with, like the flu.

The country is working with the scientific community to eventually shift from “managing a pandemic to managing a disease which we hope science will reclassify as an endemic illness”, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this week.

Meanwhile, Austria’s Parliament on Thursday (Jan 20) approved making Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for adults from next month, becoming the first European country to do so despite a wave of protests opposing the measure.

Tens of thousands have demonstrated against mandatory vaccination in regular weekend rallies since the measure was announced in November in a bid to drive up the country’s vaccination rate.

All parties, except the far-right, supported the measure, with the new legislation passing with 137 votes in favour and 33 votes against it in the 183-seat Parliament.

Under the new law, which takes effect on Feb 4, those holding out against the jab can face fines of up to €3,600 (S$5,500) from mid-March after an initial “introductory phase”.

– INDIA TODAY, INDIA TODAY, THE STRAITS TIMES