Coronavirus pandemic at ‘critical phase’ in Asia-Pacific as Delta cases rise, WHO warns

The World Health Organization said the region accounted for 10 per cent of global Covid-19 cases and more than 8 per cent of deaths in August

Limiting transmission will prevent more dangerous variants of the virus evolving and spreading, the WHO said

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Cemetery workers bury the coffin of a Covid-19 victim during a funeral in Depok, Indonesia. The country has extended the current restrictions on community activities until the end of the month. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 12:00am, 26 Aug 2021Updated: 9:01pm, 26 Aug 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said the Covid-19 pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region was at a “critical phase” and everything must be done to limit transmission now to avoid more dangerous variants from emerging.

Takeshi Kasai, regional director for WHO’s Western Pacific region, noted that the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Asia-Pacific countries “are rising sharply”, mainly due to the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

In the first three weeks of August, the region accounted for 10 per cent of global Covid-19 cases and more than 8 per cent of global deaths, he said.

“At this critical phase in the pandemic, let us stay the course,” he said in an online press conference. “Working together, we can take control. It is within our power to reduce the threat of the virus by making the most of every tool we have to fight it today.”

With the surges being experienced by several countries in the region, two scenarios were possible in the coming months, Kasai said.

The first scenario is one in which the risk of Covid-19 is reduced and can be managed like seasonal influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases, with vaccinations, prevention measures and short, targeted measures against flare-ups, he said.

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