The world shows a decrease in Covid-19 cases, says the WHO

Adds that while Southeast Asia reported a 30 per cent decrease in COVID-19 deaths, the Western Pacific region reported a 7 per cent increase

The number of new Covid-19 cases continued to fall last week, with 3.6 million new cases reported globally, down from 4 million new infections previous week, the World Health Organization said.

Last week’s drop marked the first substantial decline for more than two months, with falling Covid-19 cases in every world region. In its latest update on the pandemic released on Tuesday, WHO said there were major decreases in cases in two regions: a 22 per cent fall in the Middle East and a 16 per cent drop in Southeast Asia.

The UN health agency said there were just under 60,000 deaths in the past week, a 7 per cent decline. It said that while Southeast Asia reported a 30 per cent decrease in Covid-19 deaths, the Western Pacific region reported a 7 per cent increase. The most coronavirus cases were seen in the US, India, Britain, Turkey and the Philippines. WHO said the faster-spreading delta variant has now been seen in 185 countries and every part of the world.

The organisation also revised its list of ‘variants of interest,’ or those that it believes have the potential to cause big outbreaks; WHO said it’s tracking the lambda and mu variants, which both arose in Latin America but have yet to cause widespread epidemics. WHO has previously said that in all countries where the delta variant is circulating, it has become the predominant virus.

Biden doubling vaccine purchase

President Joe Biden is set to announce that the United States is doubling its purchase of Pfizer’s Covid-19 shots to share with the world to 1 billion doses as he embraces the goal of vaccinating 70% of the global population within the next year. The stepped-up commitment is to be the cornerstone of the global vaccination summit Biden is convening virtually Wednesday on the sidelines of UNGA, where he plans to push well-off nations to do more to get the coronavirus under control.

Sri Lanka seeks $100 mn assistance

Sri Lanka has decided to ask for a $100 million loan from the IMF to procure 14 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine and finance other vaccination programme related costs, it was announced here on Wednesday. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to grant a supplementary loan of $100 million to assist Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 response, it added.

A resident undergoes a nucleic acid test in Harbin. Pic/AFP

Chinese city shuts down over new outbreak

Officials in the northeast China city of Harbin say national level health officials have been sent to the city to deal with what may be a coronavirus outbreak. The city of 9.5 million people reported three infection cases Wednesday, a day after discovering a first case of community transmission. City authorities say residents must display a negative virus test to be able to leave for only essential travel. Otherwise, people are being told to stay home.

3,08,107
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

22,88,07,631
Total no. of cases worldwide

46,97,099
Total no. of deaths worldwide

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