Risk of coronavirus infection in the Middle East: WHO | Coronavirus News Plague

Significant increases in the number of cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, and a significant resurgence are expected in Lebanon and Morocco, the agency said.

The increase in coronavirus cases in several Middle Eastern countries could have serious side effects, exacerbated by the spread of various Delta species and the availability of fewer vaccines, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

Following a spate of cases and deaths over eight weeks, the agency said there was a sharp increase in cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, with significant developments expected in Lebanon and Morocco.

Next week countries across the region will mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which includes religious meetings and social gatherings where the disease can spread.

“WHO is concerned that the temporary increase in COVID-19 could continue to increase in the coming weeks, with serious consequences,” the agency’s office said in a statement.

Failure to adhere to health and social norms and “local satisfaction”, as well as low vaccination rates and the spread of new species, are to blame, the WHO said.

According to the agency, Tunisia is the world’s largest sex offender in the region and in Africa, and said the number of cases in Iran has doubled in the first four weeks in early July.

Overall, the number of cases of COVID-19 cases in the eastern Mediterranean region, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Djibouti as well as countries in the Middle East, has exceeded 11.4 million, he said.

More than 223,000 have died, he added.