COVID-19 claiming more lives than HIV, Malaria and TB combined – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed worry over the alarming rate of COVID-19 related deaths.

According to the Director-General of the organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more lives have been lost to COVID-19 than to HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis in the last year, with an average of 50,000 people losing their lives each week.

“More than 3.3 million people have lost their lives to COVID-19 this year. More deaths than from HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined and still, Covid-19 continues to claim around 50,000 lives a week.” 

On the spread of the Omicron variant, Dr. Ghebreyesus said Africa is now facing a steep wave of infections due to the speedy spread of the variant.

He says, although the continent recorded its lowest infections about a month ago, the situation has drastically changed. He is therefore calling for urgent measures to combat the spread of the virus, especially during the festive season.

Further advising leaders of nations and individuals to take the safety protocols serious and to also cancel events that are not very important.

“An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled. It’s better to cancel now and celebrate later than to celebrate now and grieve later. All of us are sick of this pandemic. All of us want to spend time with friends and family. All of us want to get back to normal. The fastest way to do this is for all of us, leaders and individuals to make the difficult decisions that must be made to protect ourselves and others,” he added.