A Covid "tsunami" threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems, the WHO said Wednesday, as record surges fuelled by the Omicron variant dampened New Year celebrations around the world once again.
Governments are walking a tightrope between anti-virus restrictions and the need to keep societies and economies open, as the highly transmissible variant drove cases to levels never seen before in the United States, Britain, France and Denmark.
The blistering surge was illustrated by AFP's tally of 6.55 million new infections reported globally in the week ending Tuesday, the highest the figure has been since the World Health Organization declared a Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
"I am highly concerned that Omicron, being more transmissible, circulating at the same time as Delta, is leading to a tsunami of cases," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"This is and will continue to put immense pressure on exhausted health workers, and health systems on the brink of collapse."
The variant has already started to overwhelm some hospitals in the United States, the hardest-hit nation where the seven-day average of new cases hit 265,427, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
Harvard epidemiologist and immunologist Michael Mina tweeted that the count was likely just the "tip of the iceberg" with the true number likely far higher because of a shortage of tests.
But there was some hope as data indicated a decoupling of the number of cases and hospitalisations.
"We should not become complacent," top US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci said Wednesday, but "all indications point to a lesser severity of Omicron".
At a drive-through virus testing site in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday, there were long lines of cars with people waiting to provide samples.
"Half of my family has it, you know this new variant is very, very spreadable, like way more spreadable than the first time around," said resident Victoria Sierralta.
"It's like we're back in like the first stage of Covid. It's absolutely crazy."
– 'This is serious' –
Millions around the world will again welcome a new year in the shadow of the pandemic, which is known to have killed more than 5.4 million people so far, with festivities dampened or cancelled in many countries.
Greece on Wednesday banned music in bars and restaurants to try and limit New Year's Eve parties, with public events already cancelled.
The mayor of Mexico's capital has cancelled the city's massive New Year's Eve celebrations after a spike in cases.
Despite the outbreak concerns, the streets of Mexico City were busy on Wednesday.
"I don't think that such an event with such economic importance should be cancelled, however health comes before everything else," said 59-year-old teacher Victor Arturo Madrid Contreras.
With the "cancellation they are sending a message… 'You know what? This is serious'."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meanwhile defended his decision not to clamp down on festivities over the holidays, saying around 90 percent of Covid patients in intensive care had not received a vaccine booster.
The number of people in hospital with the coronavirus topped 10,000 in England, the highest total since March, as Britain on Wednesday reported a new record of 183,037 daily cases.
The high take-up of boosters in England "is allowing us to go ahead with New Year in the cautious way that we are", Johnson said, despite new closures in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
– Records cases in France, Denmark –
Across the Channel, France too hit a new daily record of more than 200,000 cases — more than double the number on Christmas Day — as it extended its closure of nightclubs into January.
Wearing masks outdoors will become compulsory in Paris on Friday for everyone over the age of 11 except those inside vehicles, cyclists, users of other two-wheelers such as scooters and those participating in sports.
Denmark, which currently has the world's highest rate of infection per person, recorded a fresh record of 23,228 new cases, which authorities attributed in part to the large numbers of tests carried out after Christmas celebrations.
Portugal also saw a record with nearly 27,000 cases reported in 24 hours.
Coronavirus: Latest global developments
Paris (AFP) Dec 29, 2021 –
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
– Covid 'tsunami' –
A tsunami of cases from both the Omicron and Delta variants of Covid-19 will push health systems towards the brink of collapse, the World Health Organization's chief warns.
– World record of cases –
The world hits a record number of Covid infections in a seven-day period, with more than 935,000 cases detected on average each day between 22-28 December, according to an AFP tally.
– And in US –
The United States records its highest-ever seven-day average of new Covid cases, at 265,427 according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University, as the Omicron variant spreads at a blistering pace.
– France passes 200,000-case mark –
France sets a new national record for Covid-19 with 208,000 new infections recorded over 24 hours in what Health Minister Olivier Veran calls a "tidal wave".
The toll comes as lawmakers start debating a new law that will only allow the vaccinated to enter restaurants, cinemas, museums and other public venues.
– Denmark smashes record –
And Denmark, which has the world's highest infection rate per person, smashes its own record with 23,228 extra cases in 24 hours.
– Lack of booster blamed –
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defends his decision not to tighten virus curbs in England by saying around 90 percent of coronavirus patients in intensive care units have not had a booster jab.
– Silent night in Greece –
Greece bans music in bars and restaurants in a bid to limit New Year's Eve parties, as it announces a new 24-hour record of 28,828 Covid-19 infections.
– German measures 'not enough' –
Germany's health minister Karl Lauterbach warns that current coronavirus curbs will not suffice in preventing a wave of new infections of the Omicron variant.
– Spain shortens quarantine –
Spain follows the United States in shortening the mandatory isolation period for people who test positive for Covid-19, reducing it from 10 to seven days.
– Djokovic pulls out of Sydney ATP –
Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Cup in Sydney, organisers say, amid speculation about his vaccination status and whether he will defend his Australian Open title.
– Real Madrid, Barca players positive –
Three more Barcelona players, Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Gavi, have tested positive for Covid-19, as have four more at Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior, the clubs announce.
– More than 5.4 million dead –
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,413,630 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally Wednesday from official sources compiled by AFP.
Overall, the United States has recorded the most Covid deaths with 820,929, followed by Brazil with 618,705, India with 480,592 and Russia with 307,022.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.
