COVID-19 surges continue to intensify in locations such as Hong Kong, where Omicron variant activity got a later foothold, but cases and deaths continue to fall in most regions, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest weekly update yesterday.In other developments, the WHO today warned of worsening health emergencies in Ukraine and released new information on the pandemic's mental health impacts.Surges intensify in Hong Kong, New ZealandOverall, cases declined 16% last week compared to the week before, reflecting a 4-week downward trend.
Meanwhile, deaths dropped by 10%.Of the more than 10 million cases reported to the WHO last week, the countries that reported the most were Germany, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, and Brazil.
Of the roughly 60,000 new deaths that were reported, the United States had the most, with more than 13,000 fatalities.The Western Pacific region was the only part of the world in which cases are climbing.
The region is home to several of the current hot spots, which include Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Korea. All are experiencing later Omicron surges.Hong Kong's cases today reached a new daily record, with 55,353 cases.