As many friends and families consider whether to celebrate Christmas together, the UN health agency issued a reminder on Wednesday that "anyone who ignores COVID-19 is…perpetuating it".
That message from the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Eastern Mediterranean region, indicated that the pandemic is far from over, wherever you may live.
#COVID19 daily update in the World Health Organization (Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office) Region, as of 21 December, 23:59 Cairo time (GMT+2) ⬇ pic.twitter.com/seRcU5bpoE
— WHO EMRO (@WHOEMRO) December 22, 2021
Citing the latest modelling data, Ahmed Al-Mandhari said that 22 countries and territories in the region would probably see more than 17 million cases and over 314,000 deaths by the end of the year.
Despite the holiday season, "failure to apply the established public health and social measures could cause alarming surges in the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths", he said.
