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Coronavirus cases expected to hit 10m next week, says WHO Chief

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO

*Situation still evolving, hasn’t reached peak yet, but likely to result in sustained cases and deaths in coming weeks ─Head, WHO Emergencies Programme

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Following the continued rise in COVID-19 cases in many countries that have experienced about 25-50% increases in cases in the last week, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has said that he expects the number of novel Coronavirus cases around the world, currently at about 9.3 million, to increase to 10 million next week.

Agency report indicated Dr. Ghebreyesus also told a news briefing that he backed Saudi Arabia’s decision to ban pilgrims from abroad from attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage in order to help in limiting the spread of the deadly virus.

WHO is now supporting many countries in dealing with difficulties in obtaining oxygen concentrators, and devices that boost the flow of oxygen to support the breathing of COVID-19 sufferers, he said.

“Demand is outstripping supply,” WHO Director-General said.

Dr. Mike Ryan, Head of the WHO Emergencies Programme, said the pandemic for many countries in the Americas had not yet peaked, and that it was “still intense”, especially in Central and South America.

Ryan stated: “I would characterise the situation as still evolving, not having reached its peak yet, and likely to result in sustained numbers of cases and deaths in the coming weeks.”

According to him, many countries in the region have experienced 25-50% increases in cases in the last week.

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