Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
In its statement, the Army warns against engaging with unofficial statements circulating on social media platforms.
The Iranian Army confirms in a statement that it has no social media platform.
Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: We moved important equipment out of the Fordow nuclear plant before the attack
"Israel's" Ichilov Hospital confirms recieving 52 wounded from Iranian missile strikes
Iranian TV: Iranian drones penetrated occupied Palestinian airspace and successfully struck several targets
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Tehran: Iranian Arash drones launched toward Israeli targets in occupied Palestine
Israeli media: There were attempts to intercept drones in the northern areas.
Israeli Media: Sirens were activated across wide areas of "Israel," including occupied Ghajar, Kfar Giladi, Kiryat Shmona, and Tel Hai.
Sirens are now sounding in Lotan, Ardanel Ranch, and Yahel
Sirens are sounding in Kibbutz Lotan, north of Eilat, on the border with Jordan, due to suspected drone infiltration

COVID-19 rising globally due to 'alarming decline' in vaccines: WHO

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Aug 2024 15:19
3 Min Read

WHO confirms positive COVID-19 cases have been rising for several weeks, and detected in 84 countries

Listen
  • x
  • A medical worker prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in a suburb of Manila on November 29, 2021. (AFP)
    A medical worker prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in a suburb of Manila on November 29, 2021. (AFP)

COVID-19 cases are rising globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday, adding that vaccine coverage is experiencing an "alarming decline." 

"The virus is circulating in all countries," WHO director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention Maria Van Kerkhove said in a UN press briefing in Geneva, highlighting that the "Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising for several weeks."

Test positivity is currently above 10%. However, this number varies according to the region, with Van Kerkhove adding that the positivity percentage in Europe is above 20%.

Virus circulation is 2-20 times higher than reported

Related News

Half a billion adolescents could face obesity by 2030, report warns

Gaza Ministry reports 136 martyrs in 24 hours amid ongoing genocide

The circulation of the COVID-19 virus is 2-20 times higher than what is currently being reported, wastewater surveillance suggests, with the WHO director warning that "This is significant because the virus continues to evolve and change, which puts us all at risk of a potentially more severe virus that could evade our detection and/or our medical interventions, including vaccination."

"Such high circulation is not 'typical' for respiratory viruses that tend to increase in circulation in the colder months," Van Kerkhove noted, emphasizing that despite the season, many countries have experienced surges in COVID-19 cases in the last few months.

These cases are resulting in increased hospitalizations and deaths around the world, noting that these surges are also present at the Paris Olympics where at least 40 athletes have tested positive for the virus. 

Vaccination decline needs to be reversed

"Over the last two years, we have seen an alarming decline in vaccine coverage, especially among health workers and people over 60, two of the most at-risk groups," the WHO director said, asserting "This urgently needs to be turned around," by recommending countries co-administrate COVID-19 vaccinations with seasonal influenza vaccines to reverse the reduction.

Van Kerkhove also urged international governments to continue investing in and supporting an understanding of COVID-19 circulation and impact, as well as equipping their communities with the necessary tools to protect themselves and care for those suffering from acute and long-term COVID-19 effects, including post-COVID-19 conditions.

"WHO urges countries to continue to sharpen their pandemic preparedness, readiness, and response systems on which they have worked so hard during COVID, to be ready for surges of COVID-19 as well as other emerging and re-emerging pathogens, like avian influenza H5N1, mpox, dengue," she said.

  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • WHO
  • World Health Organization
  • Maria Van Kerkhove

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • Today
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Global condemnations mount against Israeli aggression on Iran
Politics

Global condemnations pour in against Israeli aggression on Iran

President Donald Trump attends the UFC 316 mixed martial arts event Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey (AP)
MENA

US denies role in attacks on Iran, yet vows to defend 'Israel'

Vehicles drive past an anti-Israeli banner showing missiles being launched, in a square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Political, military Iranian figures vow revenge, slam US complicity

AEOI condemns IAEA silence after Israeli aggression on nuclear site
Politics

AEOI slams IAEA's silence despite Israeli aggression on nuclear site

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS