Covid-19 infections across the world have surpassed 200 million since the coronavirus was first detected in China in 2019.
Global Covid-19 cases continue to increase however at a slower pace now in some countries notwithstanding vaccination campaigns in some parts of the world.
Latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that a total of 206 958 371 people across the world have contracted coronavirus, with 4 357 179 of them having since succumbed to the pandemic.
A total 4 428 168 759 people in the world have so far been inoculated against the pandemic.
In Zimbabwe, Covid-19 cases stand at over 120, 000 while deaths are slightly above 4, 000.
Other Southern African countries such as Botswana and South Africa continue to register an increase in infections.
“Last week, the 200 millionth case of COVID-19 was reported to WHO, just six months after the world passed 100 million reported cases,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while briefing the media recently.
“And we know that the real number of cases is much higher. As I said recently, whether we reach 300 million, and how fast we get there, depends on all of us. At the current trajectory, we could pass 300 million reported cases early next year. But we can change that.”
He further said: “We’re all in this together, but the world is not acting like it. We already have many tools to prevent, test for and treat COVID-19, including oxygen, dexamethasone and IL-6 blockers. But we need more, for patients at all ends of the clinical spectrum, from mild to severe disease. And we need health workers that are trained to use them in a safe environment.”
Ghebreyesus said in October, WHO reported results of the Solidarity Trial, which tested four treatments for COVID-19, involving almost 13,000 patients in 500 hospitals, in 30 countries.
“That trial showed that the four drugs had little or no effect on hospitalized patients with COVID-19,” he explained.
“We expect final results from that trial next month. Today we are pleased to announce the next phase in the Solidarity trial, called Solidarity PLUS. Solidarity PLUS will test three drugs: artesunate, a treatment for severe malaria; imatinib, a drug for certain cancers; and infliximab, a treatment for immune system disorders such as Crohn’s disease.”
