COVID deaths at lowest level in nearly a year

GENEVA - Although COVID-19 deaths continue to decline, vaccine inequity persists, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, again calling for greater support for developing countries.

Agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the death toll from the disease is now at its lowest level in almost a year.

“But it’s still an unacceptably high level – almost 50,000 deaths a week, and the real number is certainly higher,” he said, speaking during the regular WHO briefing from Geneva.

“Deaths are declining in every region except Europe, where several countries are facing fresh waves of cases and deaths. And of course, deaths are highest in the countries and populations with the least access to vaccines.” Mr Tedros appealed for global cooperation. “Countries that continue to roll out boosters now are effectively preventing other countries from vaccinating their most at-risk populations,” he said.

As of Wednesday, there were more than 238 million COVID-19 cases worldwide, and more than 4.8 million deaths.

WHO had previously pushed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations by the end of September, a target which 56 nations missed, most of them in Africa.

Mr Tedros said even more countries are at risk of missing the 40 per cent target to be achieved by the end of the year. Three countries — Burundi, Eritrea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — have yet to start vaccinations.

“About half of the remaining countries are constrained by supply.

“They have a vaccination program underway, but don’t have enough supply to accelerate enough to reach the target,” he said.