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Why?
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said nearly 10,000 coronavirus deaths were reported in December and hospital and intensive care unit admissions rose sharply.
“Although Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the virus still circulates, mutates and kills,” Tedros said said at a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday.
Compared to the previous month, there was a 42 percent increase in hospital admissions and a 62 percent increase in intensive care unit admissions. The trends are based on data reported to the WHO from fewer than 50 countries, mostly in Europe and the Americas, said Tedros, who noted that this is not the full picture.
“It is certain that there are increases in other countries that are not being reported,” he said. The WHO said in an email on Thursday that Russia appears to be reporting the most cases to the health agency, but stressed that “many countries have reduced or stopped reporting, which is part of the problem.”
The JN.1 variant is now the most commonly reported variant worldwide, Tedros said. The new dominant variant appears to be much more adept than previous variants at infecting vaccinated or already infected people, the Washington Post reported.
“Although 10,000 deaths per month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this number of preventable deaths is unacceptable,” Tedros said, calling on governments to continue strict surveillance and provide people with vaccines and treatments.
The new coronavirus variant JN.1 is spreading quickly. Here's what you should know.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for Covid-19, said at the same conference that other respiratory infections were also increasing around the world – trends she said will continue into January.
“This year, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, we are seeing a close distribution of many different types of pathogens,” she said, pointing to influenza, rhinoviruses and bacteria such as mycoplasma pneumonia. Van Kerkhove said that opening up the world during the coronavirus pandemic “takes advantage of these viruses, these bacteria that are effectively transmitted between people through the air.”
In the US, a dominant new Covid variant called JN.1 is linked to a rise in hospitalizations and deaths. (Video: Joshua Carroll, Fenit Nirappil/The Washington Post)
WHO urges people to take precautions, including testing, vaccination, wearing masks and ensuring good ventilation of indoor spaces. “The vaccines may not prevent you from becoming infected, but the vaccines certainly significantly reduce your risk of being hospitalized or dying,” Michael Ryan, head of the WHO's emergencies department, said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus hospitalizations and wastewater volumes are increasing in the United States. The United States is experiencing another Covid surge as people return to work and school after the holidays. The CDC recommends getting an updated coronavirus vaccine to increase protection against JN.1.
Mask requirements were introduced in hospitals and health facilities in Spain this week as the country sees a rise in cases of flu, coronavirus and other respiratory diseases.
Fenit Nirappil, Lena H. Sun and Amar Nadhir contributed to this report.