At least 90% of the world’s population has some form of immunity to SARS-COV-2 either because of its pollution or because of it vaccination said today its CEO World Health Organization Tedros Andanom Ghebreyesus warns of the risk of lowering your vigilance.

Gaps in Covid-19 strategies this year continue to create ideal conditions for a deadly new strain to emerge as parts of China see an increase in infections, the head of the World Health Organization said.

His remarks mark a change in tone just months after he said the world has never been in a better position to end the pandemic.

“We are much closer to saying that the emergency phase of the pandemic is over, but we are not there yet,” Tedros said.

“Gaps in testing … and in vaccination continue to create ideal conditions for the emergence of a new worrying variant that could lead to significant mortality,” Tedros said.

Infections in China hit record levels

Covid-19 infections are at an all-time high in China and have started to rise in parts of the UK after months of falling.

Further relaxation of Covid-19 testing requirements and quarantine rules in some Chinese cities was greeted with mixed feelings of relief and concern today as hundreds of millions of people await expected changes in national virus policy in the wake of widespread social unrest.

“While Covid-19 and the flu can be mild infections for many, we must not forget that they can cause serious illness or even death for the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Mary Ramsey, director of public health programs at the UK Health Security Agency. . .

The WHO has urged governments around the world to reach out to people at risk to health, such as those over 60 and those with underlying health conditions, and urge them to get vaccinated.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters, AFP.}