At the World Health Organisation (WHO) press briefing on July 12, 2022, the Director General stated [1]
“Sub-variants of Omicron, like BA.4 and BA.5, continue to drive waves of cases, hospitalization and death around the world…” and the “[n]ew waves of the virus demonstrate again that the COVID-19 is nowhere near over“
He announced that the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met on Friday July 8, 2022 and extended the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) because:
- Waves of cases, hospitalisation and death around the world from sub-variant BA.4 and BA.5
- Testing and sequencing surveillance has reduced significantly
- Diagnostics, treatments and vaccines are not being deployed effectively
- There is a major disconnect in COVID-19 risk perception
“New waves of the virus demonstrate again that the COVID-19 is nowhere near over”
“We have safe and effective tools that prevent infections, hospitalizations and deaths.”
“As transmission and hospitalisations rise, governments must also deploy tried and tested measures like masking, improved ventilation and test and treat protocols“
Tedros also promoted other vaccinations, including new ones. “Today, WHO released the first-ever report on vaccines in development to prevent infections caused by antimicrobial resistant bacterial pathogens.”
The vaccine were meant to render the pandemic over, but as new variants keep emerging…it seems it will never be “over”. [2, 3]