Half a million infections in a day. “It’s not an epidemic that slows down”

The chief scientist of the World Health Organization said that coronavirus infections are on the rise in most parts of the world with varying delta deviations, which is clear proof that the epidemic has not diminished.

Somaya Swaminathan pointed out in an interview with Bloomberg TV that while immunization levels in some countries are reducing severe cases and hospitalizations, large parts of the world are facing a lack of oxygen and hospital beds and suffering from a higher death rate.

Swaminathan also said: “In the past 24 hours, nearly 500,000 new cases and around 9,300 deaths have been reported. It is not an epidemic that is slowing down.”

She added that cases were increasing in five of the six regions of the World Health Organization and that death rates in Africa had jumped 30 to 40 percent in two weeks. The main reason for these increases is a fast-spreading delta variant, a slow global vaccination, and a relaxation of safety measures such as the removal of masks and physical distancing rules.

The World Health Organization this week urged governments to be cautious when reopening economies, so as not to jeopardize the gains made.

In England, the remaining legal restrictions are expected to be removed on July 19 and measures such as wearing masks will become a personal choice. The United States and much of Europe have also eased restrictions as cases decline.

“The idea that everyone is protected and that everything is back to normal is a very dangerous assumption right now all over the world,” said Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s health emergency program, on Wednesday.