The World Health Organization warned, on Tuesday, that the significant decline in the number of Covid tests being conducted has left the world in a state of blindness to the continuing development of the virus and its potentially dangerous mutations.
The United Nations agency said that reported injuries and deaths also recorded a significant decline.
“Last week, more than 15,000 deaths were reported to the World Health Organization, which is the lowest weekly total number recorded since March 2020,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.
While Ghebreyesus welcomed this new trend in the virus’ trajectory, he cautioned that the lower numbers may also be a result of the significant decline in the number of tests being conducted to detect infections.
He added, “This blinds us even more to the patterns of transmission and evolution of the virus,” commenting, “When it comes to a deadly virus, ignorance is not a blessing.”
William Rodriguez, who heads the Global Diagnostic Alliance “Find”, also expressed his anger that in recent months many governments simply stopped conducting HIV tests.
Speaking during his participation in the press conference hosted by the World Health Organization, Rodriguez noted that in the past four months, amid the rise in Omicron infections, “test rates have decreased from 70 to 90 percent worldwide.”
The irony is that the decline in the number of tests came at a time when the possibility of reaching accurate results regarding the infection became more than ever.
“We now have unprecedented capabilities to find out what’s going on,” Rodriguez noted.
“However, since today’s testing was the first casualty of a global decision to let our guard down, we have gone blind and oblivious to what is happening with this virus,” he added.
The Covid epidemic, according to official figures, has killed more than six million people since it first appeared in China in late 2019, but the real number is believed to be at least three times more.
While many countries are canceling preventive measures and trying to return to a semblance of normality, the World Health Organization stresses that the epidemic is not over yet.
“This virus will not disappear just because countries will stop looking for it,” Tedros said, noting that “it is still spreading and still mutating and killing.”
He warned that “the emergence of a dangerous new mutant still poses a real threat,” adding that “despite the decrease in the number of deaths, we still do not understand the long-term consequences of infection for survivors.”
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Coronavirus United States | Joe Biden’s government will appeal the repeal of the mandatory use of a mask on public transport | Covid-19 | WORLD
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
The government of USA will appeal the ruling that repealed a federal mandate to wear a mask on public transportation, the Justice Department reported Wednesday.
After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)the highest US health agency, assess “that the order requiring the use of a mask in transportation is still necessary to protect public health, the Department has filed a notice of appeal,” said spokesman Anthony Coley.
A federal judge in the United States on Monday withdrew the mandate to wear a mask once morest covid-19stating that it exceeded the legal authority of the CDC.
Lawmakers in Washington had decided just the week before to extend the measure until May 3.
Despite the public’s “great interest” in combating the spread of COVID-19, the mask mandate “exceeded the CDC’s statutory authority” and “failed to adequately explain its decisions,” the U.S. federal judge said in her decision. middle District Of Florida, Kathryn Kimball Mizelle.
Consequently, large airlines withdrew the mandatory wearing of a mask on domestic flights and on some international flights. Likewise, services such as Uber and Lyft as well as Amtrak passenger trains announced the end of the mask requirement.
Polls suggest majority support for wearing masks indoors, but a clear minority opposes it.
A YouGov poll conducted on April 18 showed that 63% support “somewhat” or “strongly” the government’s requirements for the use of masks on public transport.
Chinese Coronavirus | Shanghai reports the first deaths from Covid-19 since the beginning of the confinement | Omicron variant | WORLD
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Shanghai announced on Monday three deaths from coronavirus covid-19the first deaths since the Chinese megacity began a prolonged confinement that has generated anger and protests.
“All three people deteriorated following being admitted to hospital and died following efforts to revive them proved ineffective,” the council said on social media.
The dead are two women aged 89 and 91 and a 91-year-old man. according to the local government, which indicated that they all had health problems such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Shanghaithe largest city in China with 25 million inhabitants, faces a confinement since March with the worst outbreak of covid-19 in the country since the start of the pandemic.
The business center reported 22,248 new local cases on Monday, of which 2,417 were symptomatic, according to the municipal health commission.
The level of infections is relatively low compared to other outbreaks in the world, but it reflects a trend in recent weeks, with tens of thousands of cases a day, most of them asymptomatic.
Even so, the authorities insisted on maintaining the policy of zero tolerance for the virus, with restrictions on the movement and isolation of infected people, even if they do not present symptoms.
The inhabitants of Shanghaione of the richest and most cosmopolitan cities in Chinahave complained regarding the restrictions due to the lack of food, the inadequate conditions in the quarantine centers and the drastic application of the measures.
Social media users criticized authorities for filming the death of a dog at the hands of health workers because its owners tested positive for the coronavirus. and by the policy of separating infected children from their parents, although this measure has been eased.
In a sign of the discontent, videos posted online showed some villagers arguing with police in protective suits who ordered them to give up their homes to infected patients.
Other videos have shown the desperation of the villagers, some of whom crossed the barricades to demand food.
Chinawhere it was first detected coronavirus by the end of 2019, it had reduced infections to a minimum thanks to its zero covid policy with mass testing, travel restrictions and targeted lockdowns.
But the world’s most populous country has recently struggled to contain outbreaks in several cities following the emergence of the contagious omicron variant.
The last time China reported new deaths from covid was on March 19 when two people died in the northeastern city of Jilin, which were the first in the country in more than a year.
Doctor Thira says Omikron is not small. Whoever survives this season, don’t be careless.
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
From normal to unusual
used to exercise comfortably become more tired So tired and exhausted that I can’t work
Used to be quick-headed, remember accurately, become stubborn, can’t think, can’t remember
used to be in a good mood cheerful become moody, stressed, depressed
Have you ever eaten delicious food? good smell became a distorted taste That used to be delicious turned out to be unpalatable. The scent that used to smell has become unbearable.
I used to have no disease, suddenly becoming unexpectedly found, such as diabetes, thrombosis arrhythmia Heart attack, chronic pain, chronic pain, etc.
People who have been infected have recovered. also be aware that the risk of various conditions It still exists and may happen later. therefore must regularly assess their own health status take good care of yourself Prevent re-infection
Doctor Thira also said that The one who survived every season must not be careless
Always wearing a mask is the most important thing. and must be done in conjunction with avoiding risky behaviors risky activities risky place
Don’t let the time come when you think of the phrase, “It shouldn’t be, I know…”
because at that point can’t go back
…Preventing yourself from getting infected is the best…