The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning on the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle Eastern region, saying conditions are reaching a “critical point.”
In a press release Tuesday, WHO reported that multiple countries including Libya, Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, Lebanon and Morocco have all seen significant increases in COVID-19 cases after having seen 8 weeks of consecutive decreases.
“We are reaching a critical point for COVID-19 in our Region,” WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Mandhari said.
“Just one week after reaching the grim milestone of 11 million cases, we are now seeing an upward spike in a number of countries,” Al-Mandhari continued. “This is being aggravated by new variants circulating – most concerningly the Delta variant – low vaccine availability and uptake, and lack of adherence to public health and social measures.”
According to the WHO, Tunisia is currently reporting the highest mortality rate in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with nearly 10,000 new cases being reported daily. The immunization rate remains particularly low, with around 13 percent of the population having at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The occupancy rates for oxygen beds and intensive care unit beds are quickly nearing 100 percent.
In Libya, where the vaccine rate remains below 10 percent, the daily average of new cases has exploded by more than 400 percent. Though not officially confirmed, the more infectious delta variant is believed to be circulating within the country.
The United Nations health organization also expressed concerns about the upcoming Eid al-Adha feast celebrations that are set to take place on July 20, as the event is usually marked with large social and religious gatherings. At least 19 out of 22 countries in the region are believed to have a new virus variant circulating within their borders.
“As variants continue to spread, we need everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are offered the vaccine, and to continue wearing masks, and practising physical distancing. Although significant progress has been made, there remains a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines, and this leaves millions of people exposed to deadly variants of concern,” Al-Mandhari said.
WHO leaders have lambasted the unequal global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, accusing wealthier countries of hoarding doses for themselves.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last month that the global community was “failing,” as low- and middle-income countries fall behind in their vaccination rates.
“The problem now is a supply problem. Just give us the vaccines,” Tedros said at the time.
