This week’s WHO epi update announced the greatest increases in new COVID-19 cases stemmed from the Western Pacific and African Regions (up 29 and 12 percent respectively). On a country level, highest case numbers were registered by South Korea (up by 44 percent to more than 2 million), ‘Vietnam (1,670,627 new cases; +65%), Germany (1,350,362 new cases; +22%), Netherlands (475,290 new cases; +42%), and France (419,632 new cases; +20%)’.
In our region, the update placed the largest percentage increases over the past week ‘in Vanuatu (146 vs 3 new cases; +4767%), Tonga (685 vs 280 new cases; +145%), and American Samoa (257 vs 112 new cases; +121%)’.
A change in the classification of variants dependent on current epidemiological trends occurred last week, with the WHO designating Alpha, Beta and Gamma as ‘previously circulating VOCs’ and Delta and Omicron as ‘currently circulating VOCs.
In related news:
- Studies will continue into a new variant (detected in some EU countries and the US) that combines features from both the Delta and Omicron VoCs. Read more
- More about how SARS-CoV-2 has mutated since early 2020 Read more
- ‘The Pandemic After the Pandemic’ in The Atlantic looks into the pandemic’s ‘looming spectre’, Long Covid.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.