In a stark warning, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the death rate from COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, stands at approximately 3.4% of confirmed cases globally. This alarming statistic significantly exceeds previous estimates and is more than double the mortality rate associated with seasonal influenza, which is typically below 1%.
Tedric Adhanom, the Director-General of the WHO, emphasized that while COVID-19 is less transmissible than the flu, it results in more severe health outcomes. He urged nations to enhance their containment strategies and prioritize the safety of healthcare workers on the front lines, who are managing both confirmed and suspected cases. “Currently, about 3.4% of COVID-19 cases have resulted in death, while the seasonal flu generally affects less than 1% of those infected,” he stated at a press briefing in Geneva.
The WHO also highlighted the importance of increasing the production of essential supplies like hand sanitizer, soap, and face masks by 40%, given the current global shortages and price gouging. In addition to standard preventative measures such as hand hygiene, the lack of paid sick leave has been identified as a significant factor in the virus’s spread. Approximately 25% of U.S. workers do not have access to paid sick leave, which forces many, particularly in lower-wage jobs, to work while ill. A recent study by The Washington Post found that cities implementing paid sick leave policies saw a dramatic reduction in flu-related searches, with some areas reporting drops of up to 50%.
On a more positive note, there is some encouraging news emerging from China, where the outbreak originated. The number of new COVID-19 cases has been declining, with just 119 reported recently. Maria Van Kertlove, a WHO outbreak expert, confirmed that the data shows a genuine decrease, attributing this to the extraordinary containment measures, including lockdowns affecting over 60 million individuals. “We believe that similar reductions can occur in other affected countries, including Italy, South Korea, and Iran,” she added.
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Summary
The WHO has reported that the global death rate for COVID-19 is currently at 3.4%, significantly higher than the flu’s mortality rate of less than 1%. Urging countries to strengthen their containment efforts, the WHO’s director-general highlighted the need for increased production of essential health supplies while addressing the impact of unpaid sick leave on virus transmission. Encouragingly, China has seen a decline in new cases due to stringent control measures.