The World Health Organization announced that half a million deaths from the Corona virus had been recorded since the discovery of the mutant Omicron, while officials of the organization said - today, Wednesday - that the countries of the Middle East witnessed an acceleration in the pace of HIV infections in the past six weeks.
The director of accident management at the organization, Abdi Mahmoud, said that 130 million injuries and 500 thousand deaths have been recorded in the world since the announcement of the Omicron mutant of concern in late November.
Since then, the mutated Omicron has quickly overtaken Delta to become the world's fastest-growing tyrant, although it appears to have less severe symptoms.
Mahmoud added, in an interview with the public via the WHO accounts on social media, "In the era of effective vaccines, half a million people die, it is really unusual."
He pointed out that while everyone was saying that Omicron was less harmful, they had forgotten that half a million people had died since its discovery, describing it as "more than tragic."
Infections rising in the Middle East
In a related context, World Health Organization officials revealed a high rate of infection with the Corona virus in the countries of the Middle East in the past six weeks due to the low rates of vaccination.
The World Health Organization's regional director for the region, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, said that the daily average of reported cases of corona rose to 110,000 in the past six weeks, while the average daily death toll rose to 345 in the past three weeks.
Only more than 35% of the region's population received a full vaccination, but the Director of Program Management at the Organization's Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Rana Al-Hijjah, said that a quarter of the countries in the region did not achieve 10% of the vaccination coverage.
The Eastern Mediterranean region covered by the WHO Regional Office includes: the Middle East, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti and Afghanistan, among others.
Invitations to donate
With the increase in infections in poor countries, the organization called on the rich countries to contribute a fair share of the necessary amounts to its plan to eliminate Corona by urgently paying 16 billion dollars.
The organization said that the speedy injection of funds into the "Accelerating Availability of Anti-Corona Tools" initiative could put an end to the pandemic being considered a global emergency, this year.
The initiative, known as ACT-A, aims to develop, produce and distribute tools to combat the epidemic, such as vaccines, tests, treatments and personal protective equipment.
The initiative paved the way for the "COFAX" mechanism aimed at ensuring that poor countries have access to vaccines, and it was right in its expectation that rich countries would stockpile the doses upon completion of their production.
Kovacs delivered its billionth dose of coronavirus vaccines in mid-January.
The ACT-A initiative needs $23.4 billion for its program in the year running from October 2021 to September 2022, but it has received only $800 billion so far.
The program then asks for $16 billion from rich countries to "fill the fiscal gap immediately", while middle-income countries pay the rest.
Injury of the King of Spain
And in Spain, the royal palace said - in a statement - that King Felipe VI tested positive for the Corona virus today, Wednesday, after he showed mild symptoms during the night, adding that he would be subject to isolation for 7 days.
The statement stated that the general health of His Majesty, 54, is good, and he will continue his activities from his residence.
He added that neither his wife, Queen Letizia, nor their daughter, Princess Sophia, had any symptoms.
easing restrictions
In the Arab world, the Sultanate of Oman announced today, Wednesday, the easing of the restrictions imposed on the Corona virus imposed on several places, including mosques and work sites.
The Supreme Committee in charge of dealing with the Corona virus said - in a statement - that it had decided to end the reduction in the number of employees who are required to come to workplaces in the units of the state's administrative apparatus, and other public legal persons.
The decision allowed the establishment of Friday prayers and the continuation of holding the five daily prayers, provided that the number of worshipers does not exceed 50% of the capacity of mosques and mosques, in addition to allowing the holding of international and local conferences and exhibitions and activities of a public nature, provided that the percentage of the capacity does not exceed 70% of the capacity of the venue for these events. .
As of today, Wednesday, the Sultanate of Oman has recorded a total of 359,256 cases of coronavirus, including 4,190 deaths, and 331,473 recoveries.
In Tunisia, the Tunisian Ministry of Religious Affairs announced today, Wednesday, the resumption of Friday prayers, after it had been suspended since January 14, to prevent the Corona virus.
The ministry stressed - in a statement - the obligation to adhere to the preventive measures stipulated in the protocol for maintaining health in religious monuments.
Tunisia has been facing the Corona pandemic since March 2020, and according to the Ministry of Health figures, the country has recorded 950,575 cases of the virus, including 26,824 deaths, while 850,452 people have recovered.
Britain is considering ending precautionary measures
In Europe, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he plans to cancel the remaining restrictions to confront the Corona virus, a month before the previously scheduled date of March 24.
Johnson explained that this will depend on the continuation of the current curve of the health situation in the country.
He added in press statements, "I can say that I intend to present our plan for coexistence with the Corona pandemic when we return from Parliament's annual recess."