WHO worries over fresh 170,000 COVID-19 deaths

The World Health Organisation has expressed worry over the rising number of coronavirus deaths in many countries.

According to the WHO, more than 170,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the past eight weeks.

Speaking during a media briefing on global health issues monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday, the Director General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 would meet this week to discuss whether the current situation still constituted a global emergency.

The PUNCH reports that globally, as of January 23, 2023, there have been 664,097,132 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6,716,108 deaths, reported to WHO.

Ghebreyesus said, “Since the beginning of December, the number of weekly reported deaths from COVID-19 has been increasing. In total, in the past eight weeks, more than 170,000 people have died of COVID-19. That’s just reported deaths; the actual number of deaths is much higher.

“Almost exactly three years on from declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, our highest level of alert, this week the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 will meet to discuss whether the current situation still constitutes a global emergency.

“While I will not pre-empt the advice of the Emergency Committee, I remain very concerned by the situation in many countries and the rising number of deaths.”

The WHO boss noted that too few people, especially older people and health workers were adequately vaccinated.

“And there’s a torrent of pseudo-science and misinformation circulating, which is undermining trust in safe and effective tools for COVID-19,” Ghebreyesus said.

He warned that the virus should not be underestimated.