Omicron risk ‘very high’, says WHO amid 11% rise in global Covid cases

Europe accounted for more than half the total, with 2.84 million, though that amounted to only a 3% increase over the previous week

A medical worker wearing protective gear holds plastic gloves for visitors waiting in line for testing at a temporary screening clinic for the coronavirus in Seoul, South Korea. Picture: Lee Jin-man/AP

The number of Covid-19 cases recorded worldwide increased by 11% last week compared with the previous week, with the biggest increase in the Americas, the World Health Organisation has said.

Almost 900,000 cases were detected on average each day around the world between December 22 and 28, with myriad countries posting new all-time highs in the previous 24 hours, including the United States, Australia, many in Europe and Bolivia.