A "tsunami" of Omicron and Delta Covid-19 cases will pile pressure on health systems already being stretched to their limits, the World Health Organization warned on Wednesday.
The WHO said the Delta and Omicron variants of concern were "twin threats" that were driving new case numbers to record highs, leading to spikes in hospitalisations and deaths.
The WHO said new global cases had risen by 11 per cent last week, while the United States and France both registered record daily case numbers on Wednesday.
"I am highly concerned that Omicron, being more transmissible, circulating at the same time as Delta, is leading to a tsunami of cases," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.
"This is and will continue to put immense pressure on exhausted health workers, and health systems on the brink of collapse."
He said the pressure on health systems was not only due to new coronavirus patients, but also large numbers of health workers falling ill with Covid.
"The unvaccinated are many times more at risk of dying from either variant," he added.
🕑 22 Jun,22 12:49p.m.
Govt readying OROP arrears for defence pensioners
🕑 21 Jun,22 4:53p.m.
Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2023
🕑 16 Jun,22 1:18p.m.
Central Govt Employees can now buy iPads with computer advance
🕑 16 Jun,22 1:08p.m.
iPad considered as personal computer for the grant of computer advance
🕑 14 Jun,22 5:14p.m.
Modi directs 10 lakh new central government postings in next one and half years
🕑 14 Jun,22 2:39p.m.
Government unveils radical armed forces recruitment plan - Agnipath
🕑 14 Jun,22 9:30a.m.
Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for railway contract workers w.e.f. April '22
🕑 14 Jun,22 7:04a.m.
Purchase, use, entitlement and other instructions regarding Staff Car in CPSEs
🕑 21 Jun,22 6p.m.
Fifteen benefits for 'Agniveers' after their retirement
🕑 08 Jun,22 9:29a.m.
Fact check: Is Centre doing away with NPS?
🕑 07 Jun,22 2:53p.m.
Britain testing 4-day workweek. Will India also go for similar option
🕑 01 Jun,22 3:16p.m.
Govt issues guidelines on monkeypox
🕑 26 May,22 3:03p.m.
Govt hikes motor insurance rates. Find how much you will have to pay
🕑 25 May,22 4:55p.m.
PAN, Aadhaar must for cash high value withdrawals/deposits from tomorrow
🕑 24 May,22 10:31a.m.
Govt warns SBI users to delete this message immediately or lose money
🕑 04 May,22 7:55p.m.
Amazon Summer Sale Offers: Up to 80% off + Savings
🕑 30 Apr,22 11:55p.m.
March AI CPI-IW up sharp 1 by point. Expected DA from July 2022 is 37%
🕑 30 Apr,22 11:04a.m.
Understanding Aykroyd formula, which the 8th Pay Commission might depend