COVID-19: Middle East cases drop, but situation still fragile, says WHO
Most Middle East countries reported a fall in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.
Cases declined by 16% and deaths by 8% in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region, which comprises 21 countries and the occupied Palestinian territories – a population of about 679 million people.
Five territories in the region – Egypt, the Palestinian territory, Somalia, Syria and Yemen – are reporting surges in cases and deaths.
The Eastern Mediterranean region has reported a total of more than 15 million confirmed cases and in excess of 278,000 deaths.
The highly contagious Delta variant is in at least 16 countries in the region, the WHO said.
Variants of concern, low take-up of public health measures and insufficient vaccination coverage because of limited distribution are all challenges that plague the Middle East, Dr. Al Mandhari, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean said.
