The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the recent resurgence of COVID-19, driven by holiday gatherings and a new variant, led to nearly 10,000 deaths last month. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, this alarming rise in fatalities and a 42% increase in hospital admissions were primarily observed in Europe and the Americas. Despite the lower death toll compared to the pandemic’s peak, Tedros emphasized that such preventable loss of life remains unacceptable.
The surge is attributed to the JN.1 variant, an offshoot of the Omicron strain, which is now the most dominant globally. However, current vaccines are expected to offer protection against this variant.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for COVID-19, highlighted a global increase in respiratory diseases, including flu, rhinovirus, and pneumonia, alongside the coronavirus. She anticipates these trends to persist through the northern hemisphere’s winter and in the southern hemisphere, where it’s currently summer.
As multiple pathogens co-circulate, WHO officials stress the importance of vaccination, mask-wearing, and ensuring good ventilation in indoor spaces. Dr. Michael Ryan, head of emergencies at WHO, added that while vaccines might not prevent infection, they significantly reduce the risks of severe illness and death.