The international well being physique stated festivities and celebrations should embody all precautionary measures and crowds and enormous gatherings should be averted.
“At no cost should we let our guards down,” stated Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia Region.
“Though COVID-19 cases have been declining in most countries of our Region, the surge in cases elsewhere in the world and confirmation of a new Variant of Concern, is a reminder of the persisting risk and the need for us to continue to do our best to protect against the virus and prevent its spread,” she stated in a press release.
Countries should improve surveillance and sequencing, she stated.
Based on up to date data on circulating variants and response capacities, they need to assess the chance of importation by way of worldwide journey and take measures accordingly, she stated.
Comprehensive and tailor-made public well being and social measures to stop transmission should proceed, Singh confused, noting that the sooner the protecting measures are applied, the much less restrictive they might must be so as to be efficient.
“The more COVID-19 circulates, the more opportunities the virus will have to change and mutate, and the pandemic will last longer,” the Regional Director stated.
The most vital factor folks should do is cut back their threat of publicity to the virus – put on a masks masking nostril and mouth; hold protected distance; keep away from poorly ventilated or crowded areas; hold palms clear; cowl cough and sneeze; and get vaccinated, she said.
“As of today 31 per cent of the Region’s population is fully vaccinated, 21% partially vaccinated while nearly 48%, or about a billion people are yet to receive even a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” she stated, including that they proceed to be in danger of contracting extreme illness and spreading the virus additional.
Even after getting vaccinated, everybody should proceed to take precautions to stop changing into contaminated and to contaminate another person who could get severely affected by the virus, she recommended.
The WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution met Friday and designated B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern and named it Omicron. Researchers are working to know how transmissible or virulent this variant is, and the way it will influence diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
“We must not forget that the pandemic is far from over. As societies open up, we should not get complacent. Festivities and celebrations must include all precautionary measures. Crowds and large gatherings must be avoided. The current situation warrants further stepping up efforts on all fronts,” the Regional Director stated.
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