“Toxic mix” of low Covid vaccination, test volume prescription duplicates variations, warns WHO
In the middle of application of the new variant of coronavirus Omicron, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that there is a “toxic mix” of low vaccine coverage and very low testing in the world – a recipe for growing and confirming variants.
“Globally, we have a toxic mix of low vaccine coverage and very low testing – a recipe for breeding and duplicating variants. That is why we continue to urge countries to fully fund ACT Accelerator to ensure equal access to vaccines, tests and treatments worldwide,” Tedros told reporters.
“But if countries and individuals don’t do what they have to do to stop the spread of the Delta, they won’t stop Omicron either,” he added.
The new variant of Omicron coronavirus has been confirmed in 23 countries and their numbers are expected to grow, Tedros said, adding to the development “very seriously.”
“Who takes this development extremely seriously, and so should every country. But it shouldn’t surprise us. That’s what viruses do. And so this virus will continue to do so, as long as we let it continue to spread,” he said. said.
Demanding to prevent Omicron from spreading, Tedros said, “General travel bans do not prevent Omicron from spreading internationally, and they place a heavy burden on people and livelihoods.”
The WHO chief thanked Botswana and South Africa for detecting and reporting this variation so quickly, but urged all countries to take sensible and proportionate risk mitigation measures in accordance with international health regulations.
“I thank Botswana and South Africa for detecting, sequencing and reporting this variation so quickly. I am deeply concerned that others are now punishing these countries for working properly,” he said.
Tedros said the WHO is constantly learning more about Omicron, but more needs to be learned about its impact on infection, the severity of the disease, and the effectiveness of tests, therapies, and vaccines.
“Several WHO advisory groups have met over the past couple of days to assess new evidence and prioritize the research needed to answer these questions,” he added.
In the past, the head of the UN health agency has criticized the “stupid” and “general” measures taken by countries in recent days to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.
In a statement on Tuesday, the WHO director-general said it was “deeply worrying” that Botswana and South Africa, where the new variant was first identified, “drank others to punish them for doing the right thing”.
Dozens of countries have imposed travel bans on the peoples of South Africa since the mutation was discovered late last week.
Source: ANI