'Be vigilant', WHO tells Southeast Asia countries amid case surge, emergence of new variant – The Economic Times

PTI COVID-19 CASES World India Confirmed 33,531,498 Deaths 445,768 Confirmed 229,508,037 Deaths 4,707,821 Amid the detection of a new coronavirus variant and surge in cases elsewhere, the WHO Saturday asked countries in the southeast Asia region to scale up surveillance, strengthen public health and social measures, and enhance vaccination coverage. The global health body said festivities and celebrations must include all precautionary measures and crowds and large gatherings must be avoided. “At no cost should we let our guards down,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia Region. “Though COVID-19 cases have been declining in most countries…