US warned of coronavirus 'fourth wave' by expert
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Dr Maria van Kerkhove, head of the WHO’s technical response, spoke at a press conference on Monday. She referenced an increase of more than 4.4 million new cases in the last week. Monday marked the reopening of high street shops and pub gardens in England, as well as non-essential retailers in Wales.
Dr van Kerkhove compared the number of global cases to the figure of 500,000 reported per week one year ago. She drew attention to the importance of following all preventative measures alongside vaccines.
This was echoed by WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu who said vaccines are not the “only tool” to fight Covid-19.
Dr van Kerkhove said: “We need headlines around these public health and social measures, we need headlines around the tools that we have right now that can prevent infections and save lives.
“We are in a critical point of the pandemic right now, the trajectory of this pandemic is growing.
“It’s the seventh week in a row where we’ve had more than 4.4 million new cases reported in the last week (around the world).
“If you compare that to a year ago we had about 500,000 cases being reported per week… the trajectory of the pandemic right now is growing exponentially.
“This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic, where we have proven control measures. It is time right now where everyone has to take stock and have a reality check about what we need to be doing.
“Take a look at what people are doing and how you are mixing, make sure you are doing the right steps that you can to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
“We need governments to support individuals so that the control measures in place are applied consistently and are applied in a coherent manner.
“It is vaccines but it’s not vaccines-only – it’s vaccines and what can you be doing everyday, what can you be doing to keep yourself safe and your loved ones safe.”
DON’T MISS:
EU official throws tantrum over vaccine contracts: ‘UK has worst terms [SPOTLIGHT]
French street renamed ‘rue du Brexit’ after referendum [INSIGHT]
Vaccine roll-out: Under-50s to start getting jabs THIS WEEK [REVEAL]
Dr Ghebreyesu added: “This pandemic is a long way from over, but we have many reasons for optimism.
“The decline in… deaths during the first two months of the year shows that this virus and its variants can be stopped.
“With a concerted effort to apply public health measures, alongside equitable vaccination, we could bring this pandemic under control in a matter of months.”
Source: Read Full Article
