The number of infections are slowing-down in Omicron hit places: PAHO

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday said that the rate of illness and number of deaths due to COVID-19 might be increasing, but the continuous spike in the number of infections might be slowing down in places that the Omicron-new variant of COVID-19 has the earliest hit.

The number of infections are slowing-down in Omicron hit places: PAHO

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday said that the rate of illness and number of deaths due to COVID-19 might be increasing, but the continuous spike in the number of infections might be slowing down in places that the Omicron-new variant of COVID-19 has the earliest hit.

The recent spike of 7 million new COVID-19 cases in North America, some 4 million new infections. While Chile and Brazil have posted record numbers of daily COVID-19 cases. At the same time, the death rate has bounced twice in Cuba, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda.

Meanwhile, 14 nations have completely immunized 70% of their populations. The agency stated that the same number of nations have yet to protect 40% of their people.

While briefing the media, PAHO director, Carissa Etienne said, “Over 54% of people in low and middle-income nations in the region are yet to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.”

There are some of the gaps that are making it a hassle. For instance, in the United States and Anguilla, vaccine coverage among the elder age group is lower as compared to the young age group who are less at risk to catch the COVID-19 disease, she said.

There are also several serious blind spots because of the lack of detailed vaccination data in some nations.

Without getting aware of those numbers, authorities could not justify the proportion of high-risk groups, like the elderly, pregnant women, or health workers, that have been protected against COVID-19, Etienne added.