The Covid-19 pandemic has entered a critical phase as infections exponentially increase despite widespread measures aimed at stopping them, the WHO warned on Monday, with record case numbers in South Asia triggering tough new restrictions.
However, Britons enjoyed the freedoms of a pint and a haircut for the first time in months as curbs eased, illustrating how fast-vaccinating countries are leaving other — mostly poorer — nations behind. The coronavirus has already killed more than 2.9 million people and infected nearly 136 million across the world.
But the World Health Organisation’s technical lead on Covid-19 Maria Van Kerkhove said “the trajectory of this pandemic is growing… exponentially.” “This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic when we have proven control measures,” she told reporters, adding “we are in a critical point of the pandemic right now”.
