Rise in COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Fatalities Expected in Winter

Highlights:

WHO statistics reveal that while there were more than 14,000 COVID-19 fatalities, the number of new deaths fell by 15% in the last week of August
But with colder weather approaching in the northern hemisphere, there could be a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months
As COVID-19 vaccination coverage is still low in developing countries, the WHO has urged people to get vaccinated or get a booster if it’s recommended

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that as the winter months approach, additional hospitalizations and deaths are anticipated despite a current declining trend in new Covid-19 cases.

“Despite a welcome decline in reported (COVID-19) deaths globally, with colder weather approaching in the northern hemisphere, it’s reasonable to expect an increase in hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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‘There is a chance that more contagious and hazardous COVID-19 variants and vaccination gaps might increase hospitalizations and deaths during winter in the Northern hemisphere.’

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The number of new weekly cases declined by 9% to almost 5.3 million between August 15 to 21 as compared to the prior week, according to the WHO’s most recent COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update. With more than 14,000 fatalities reported, the number of new weekly deaths also fell by 15% from the previous week.

The current sub variants of Omicron are more contagious than their predecessors, according to the head of the WHO. There is still a chance that more contagious and hazardous variants will evolve.

However, particularly in developing nations with low incomes, vaccination coverage among the most vulnerable populations is still too low, according to Xinhua.

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“Even in high-income countries, 30% of health workers and 20% of older people remain unvaccinated. These vaccination gaps pose a risk to all of us. So, please get vaccinated if you are not, and get a booster if it's recommended that you have one,” Tedros added, recommending that people wear masks in crowded indoor spaces.

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“Living with COVID-19 doesn’t mean pretending the pandemic is over. Likewise, pretending a deadly virus is not circulating is a huge risk. Living with COVID-19 means taking the simple precautions to avoid getting infected,” he said, calling on all governments to update their policies to make the best use of the life-saving tools that exist to manage COVID-19 responsibly.

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