World hits record Covid-19 cases, WHO warns over Omicron
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – Global COVID-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on Wednesday, as the new Omicron variant raced out of control, keeping workers at home and overwhelming testing centers.
Almost 900,000 cases were detected on average each day around the world between December 22 and 28, with myriad countries posting new all-time highs over the past 24 hours, including the United States, Australia and many European nations.
It is currently spreading at an unprecedented speed, far exceeding the previous highest rate of outbreak recorded between April 23 and 29, amounting to 817,000 infections per day.
The number of infections, which has been increasing globally since mid-October, increased by 37% in the past seven days compared to the previous week, and this has forced several countries to impose additional restrictions, especially during the celebration of Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Omicron is behind the rapid virus spikes, the WHO said earlier on Wednesday in its COVID weekly epidemiological update.
“Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days,” said WHO, adding that many countries, including the United States and Britain, have witnessed a rapid increase in the spread of HIV infections.
Despite its confirmation of the acceleration of infections with Omicron, WHO indicated a drop in infections by 29% in South Africa, the first country in which Omicron was first announced on t last November 24.