WHO: COVID transmission increased in December — 10,000 deaths recorded

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there was increased transmission of COVID-19 in December.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, disclosed this during an online media conference.

He said although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the virus is still circulating, mutating, and killing.

He said the increased transmission during December was fuelled by gatherings over the holiday period, and by the JN.1 variant, which is now the most-commonly reported variant globally.

“Almost 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 were reported to WHO in December, and there was a 42% increase in hospitalizations and a 62% increase in ICU admissions, compared with November,” he said.

“However, these trends are based on data from less than 50 countries, mostly in Europe and the Americas.

“It is certain that there are also increases in other countries that are not being reported. Just as governments and individuals take precautions against other diseases, we must all continue to take precautions against COVID-19.

“Although 10,000 deaths a month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this level of preventable death is not acceptable.

“We continue to call on governments to maintain surveillance and sequencing, and to ensure access to affordable and reliable tests, treatments and vaccines for their populations.

“And we continue to call on individuals to be vaccinated, to test, to wear masks where needed and to ensure crowded indoor spaces are well ventilated.”