Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/14/risk-of-catastrophic-coronavirus-surge-in-middle-east-who
Risk of ‘catastrophic’ coronavirus surge in Middle East: WHO
Significant increases in cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, with sharp rises expected in Lebanon and Morocco, agency says.
14 Jul 2021
A surge of coronavirus cases in several Middle Eastern countries could have dire consequences, aggravated by the spread of the Delta variant and low vaccine availability, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
After a decline in cases and deaths for eight weeks, the agency said there had been significant increases in cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, with sharp rises expected in Lebanon and Morocco.
Next week countries across the region will mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which traditionally includes religious and social gatherings where infections could spread.
“WHO is concerned that the current COVID-19 upsurge may continue to peak in the coming weeks, with catastrophic consequences,” the agency’s regional office said in a statement.
A lack of adherence to public health and social measures and “increasing complacency by communities”, as well as low vaccination rates and the spread of new variants, were to blame, WHO said.
The agency highlighted Tunisia as the country with the highest coronavirus mortality rate per capita in the region and in Africa, and noted daily cases had almost doubled in Iran during the four weeks into early July...
Risk of ‘catastrophic’ coronavirus surge in Middle East: WHO
Significant increases in cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, with sharp rises expected in Lebanon and Morocco, agency says.
14 Jul 2021
A surge of coronavirus cases in several Middle Eastern countries could have dire consequences, aggravated by the spread of the Delta variant and low vaccine availability, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
After a decline in cases and deaths for eight weeks, the agency said there had been significant increases in cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, with sharp rises expected in Lebanon and Morocco.
Next week countries across the region will mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which traditionally includes religious and social gatherings where infections could spread.
“WHO is concerned that the current COVID-19 upsurge may continue to peak in the coming weeks, with catastrophic consequences,” the agency’s regional office said in a statement.
A lack of adherence to public health and social measures and “increasing complacency by communities”, as well as low vaccination rates and the spread of new variants, were to blame, WHO said.
The agency highlighted Tunisia as the country with the highest coronavirus mortality rate per capita in the region and in Africa, and noted daily cases had almost doubled in Iran during the four weeks into early July...