Although the coronavirus is still a cause for concern in many areas, the World Health Organization said Tuesday that COVID-19-related deaths and infections have declined for the third straight week, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S.will soon reach a total of one million COVID-related deaths, and experts are still unclear on the long-range impact of the disease. However, WHO Africa Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said, “We are not yet observing a major spike in cases, hospitalizations or deaths.”

People who have had Covid-19 (a positive rapid antigen test is seen here) have an increased risk of developing serious blood clots for up to six months after getting infected, even in mild cases, a study has shown
People who have had Covid-19 (a positive rapid antigen test is seen here) have an increased risk of developing serious blood clots for up to six months after getting infected, even in mild cases, a study has shown AFP / Odd ANDERSEN

COVID-19 is largely to blame for 2021 being confirmed as the deadliest year in the history of the U.S. Health experts believe that the emergence of new variants has caused virus-related deaths to rise, yet Dr. Moeti stressed that “there is no cause for alarm with the emergence of the new sub-variants.”

The U.S. is currently seeing an increase in cases, but new White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish K. Jha has told media outlets that the numbers are not troubling.

“Right now that is showing an uptick, but not showing substantial changes in what we should be doing,” Dr. Jha said on CNN. “And I think the CDC policy is right on this.”

The WHO has begun analyzing many cases of new sub-variants of Omicron to determine if they spread more easily, or if they cause severe disease. The United Nations agency said Monday that it will begin observing BA.4 and BA.5, relatives of the initial Omicron strain.

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