The number of COVID-19 deaths, which typically lag behind new cases by about three weeks, decreased 8% to about 67,000 worldwide, the first time weekly fatalities have fallen since early January, the WHO said. The Western Pacific was the only region that saw an increase in COVID-19 cases, with a 29% jump, while the number of infections elsewhere dropped significantly. Omicron accounts for 99% of the cases worldwide.
In its weekly pandemic report, the WHO acknowledged for the first time that booster shots play an important role in fending off the omicron assault, even when the variant is more capable of producing breakthrough infections, which tend to be milder. However, more research is still needed on how long protection from boosters lasts, the WHO said.
Hong Kong, struggling with its worst COVID-19 outbreak of the pandemic, will test every one of its 7.5 million people for the coronavirus three times next month, the city’s leader said Tuesday.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said testing capacity will be boosted to 1 million a day or more with the hope of ultimately allowing for the entire city to be tested in one week.
Hong Kong has reported about 5,000 new daily infections since Feb. 15, imperiling its health care system. Since the current, omicron-driven surge began at the beginning of the year, the city has recorded nearly 54,000 cases and 145 deaths.
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