Countries should increase surveillance and sequencing, said regional director, WHO, South-East Asia Region
New Delhi:
Amid the detection of a new coronavirus variant and a surge in cases elsewhere, the WHO on Saturday asked countries in the Southeast Asia region to increase surveillance, strengthen public health and social measures and increase vaccination coverage.
The global health body said that festivities and celebrations should include all precautionary measures and avoid crowds and large gatherings.
“We must not let our guard down at any cost,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for the WHO, South-East Asia Region.
“While COVID-19 cases are declining in most countries in our region, the rise in cases elsewhere in the world and the confirmation of a new version of concern are reminders of the continued risk and need for us to continue our work. The best is to protect against the virus and prevent its spread,” she said in a statement.
He said countries should increase surveillance and sequencing.
He said that based on updated information on circulating variants and response capabilities, they should assess the risk of imports via international travel and take measures accordingly.
Broad and consistent public health and social measures to prevent transmission must continue, Ms Singh stressed, adding that the earlier protective measures are put in place, they will need to be less restrictive to be effective.
“The more COVID-19 spreads, the more opportunities the virus will have to mutate and mutate, and the longer the pandemic will last,” the regional director said.
The most important thing people should do is to reduce their risk of exposure to the virus – wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth; keep a safe distance; Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded places; keep hands clean; cover coughs and sneezes; And get vaccinated, she said.
He said, “Till date 31 percent of the population of the region has been fully vaccinated, 21% have been partially vaccinated, while about 48% or about one billion people have yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. not found.” They are at risk of contracting serious illness and further spreading the virus.
Even after getting vaccinated, precautions should be taken to protect everyone from getting infected and infecting anyone else who may be seriously affected by the virus, she suggested.
The WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on the Development of the Virus met on Friday and designated B.1.1529 as a variant of concern and named it ‘Omicron’. Researchers are working to understand how transmissible or virulent this variant is, and how it will affect diagnosis, therapeutics, and vaccines.
“Let us not forget that the pandemic is not over. As societies open up, we should not be complacent. Festivities and celebrations should include all precautionary measures. Crowds and large gatherings should be avoided. The current situation warrants efforts. It is pushing forward on all fronts,” said the regional director.
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