(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) WHO warns not to underestimate the risk of the epidemic

　　China News Agency, Beijing, February 19. Comprehensive news: The latest data from the official website of the World Health Organization shows that as of 17:20 on the 18th Central European Time, there have been 41,865,0474 confirmed cases of new crowns in the world and 5,856,224 deaths from new crowns.

According to the latest statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 8:20 on the 19th, Beijing time, there were 421,203,495 confirmed cases and 5,872,104 deaths worldwide.

　　WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the 18th that the idea that some countries believe that the new crown epidemic is over because of the high vaccination rate of the new crown is "dangerous", and the threat posed by the new crown mutant virus Omicron strain cannot be ignored.

　　Tedros pointed out that at present, about 70,000 people die from the new crown every week in the world, and 83% of the population in African countries have not been vaccinated against the new crown. The health system in the region is overwhelmed.

"In this case, a more contagious and dangerous variant could easily emerge."

　　Tedros called on countries to actively provide financial support for the WHO-led "Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator" international cooperation initiative to fill this year's $16 billion funding gap to provide vaccines, testing, treatment and personal protection worldwide equipment etc.

Americas: US Surgeon General diagnosed with new crown

　　According to data released by Johns Hopkins University at 8:20 Beijing time on the 19th, a total of 78,368,817 cases have been diagnosed in the United States, and a total of 933,749 deaths.

　　U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on the 18th local time that he tested positive for the new crown.

Murthy also said that his wife and 5-year-old son also contracted the virus with mild symptoms.

Murthy revealed on July 15, 2021, that 10 of his family members had died from the virus.

Europe: Italy's epidemic slows for three weeks in a row

　　According to data released by the Italian Ministry of Health on the 18th, 53,662 new cases were diagnosed in the country in a single day, with a total of 12,377,098 confirmed cases; 314 new deaths were added, and a total of 152,596 deaths.

　　According to the Italian EUN News Agency, a report released by the Italian GIMBE Medical Foundation on the 17th local time pointed out that the Italian epidemic has slowed down for three consecutive weeks.

Nino Catabellota, president of the foundation, believes that the decline of the fourth wave of the epidemic, high vaccination rates, and the coming spring have avoided the emergence of new variants of the virus that are more contagious or more serious.

　　Italian Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Silleri said on the 17th that the latest amendment to the epidemic prevention law has just been approved by the House of Representatives. From March 10 this year, Italian theaters, cinemas, stadiums and other public places will be allowed to sell food and beverages.

The move is a fresh sign of restarting the economy.

　　According to data released by the Robert Koch Institute of the German disease control agency on the 18th, 206,037 new cases were diagnosed in the country in a single day, with a total of 13,360,578 confirmed cases; 246 new deaths were reported, and a total of 121,693 deaths.

　　The German authoritative institute for Economic Research estimated on the 17th that in the two years since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the German economy has suffered a loss of about 330 billion euros, which is equivalent to a 10% reduction in Germany’s GDP on the basis of 2019.

The German Institute for Economic Research also made a similar estimate, saying that the new crown epidemic caused the German economy to lose about 350 billion euros.

　　According to data released by the British Ministry of Health on the 18th, 47,685 new cases were diagnosed in the country in a single day, with a total of 18,546,205 confirmed cases; 158 new deaths were reported, and a total of 160,379 deaths.

　　The Russian Epidemic Prevention Command reported on the 18th that 180,071 new cases were diagnosed in the country in a single day, with a total of 15,020,573 confirmed cases; 784 new deaths were added, and a total of 343,957 deaths.

Asia: South Korea's daily increase in confirmed cases exceeds 100,000 for the first time

　　South Korea's Central Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters reported on the 18th that 109,831 new cases were diagnosed in the country in a single day, setting a new high since the outbreak in the country, with a total of 1,755,806 confirmed cases; 45 new deaths and a total of 7,283 deaths.

　　South Korea's epidemic prevention department previously predicted that the country's daily increase in confirmed cases by the end of this month will be between 130,000 and 170,000. However, some Korean media analyzed that, according to the current trend, the daily increase in confirmed cases next week may far exceed the forecast, which cannot be ruled out. The possibility of breaking through 200,000.

　　South Korean Prime Minister Kim Fu-gyeom said on the 18th that the government will fine-tune the epidemic prevention measures within the range that the medical system can bear after comprehensively considering the people's livelihood and the current economic situation.

The new version of the epidemic prevention measures will be implemented from the 19th of this month to the 13th of the next month, allowing restaurants, cafes and other places to extend the daily business closing time from 21:00 to 22:00, and the maximum number of people in private gatherings will remain at 6 people.

Africa: The cumulative number of cured new crown cases in Africa exceeds 10.24 million

　　According to data released by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 18th local time, a total of 11,095,734 cases have been diagnosed in Africa, with a total of 246,142 deaths and a total of 10,242,760 cured cases.

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