The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has dropped, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the WHO, the total number of illnesses worldwide dropped by 21 percent or 13 million from February 14 to 20.
During that period, it even recorded a 29 percent increase in COVID-19 cases in the Western Pacific region, which includes the Philippines.
The WHO reminded people to be careful when looking at COVID-19 data.
The organization is aware that many countries are being tested less, including the Philippines.
“We are very concerned about the reduction, significant reduction, or abandonment of testing. We need people to know if they’re infected or not so they know what to do,” said WHO technical lead for COVID-19, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.
“Now is not the time to drop everything because we have to be careful of how to limit the spread as well as reduce severity and death,” he added.
According to Van Kerkhove, the use of antigen testing will also help, especially as it will be faster and bring testing closer to people.
The WHO, on the other hand, denied that a person affected by BA.2 sub-lineage of the omicron variant could get a worse type of COVID-19 compared to BA.1. However, this is what appears in a study in Japan.
Number of COVID-19 cases worldwide declining: WHO
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) had earlier said that BA.2 is the most visible sub-lineage in genome sequencing in the country.
“Is BA.2 behaving differently compared to BA.1? It is more transmissible, yes. But in terms of severity, we aren’t seeing that,” Van Kerkhove said.
Experts have repeatedly insisted that vaccinations and boosters should accompany the improvement in numbers.
But unlike others who think regular boosters may be needed, vaccine expert panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante that three injections of COVID-19 vaccine are still enough.
“If in 3 to 4 months cases will continue to go down that he is no longer alarming, then why will we need a 4th dose?” even Solante.
“For now, third dose is enough. Those who received the primary series, it’s not enough. You need the booster,” he added.
Based on the latest record, up to 62.6 million have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 9.7 million have received the booster dose.
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