World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that 15,000 people have lost their lives to covid-19 in the past one week.
In a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, WHO reported that death rates have also increased to 35 per cent globally in a span of a month.
"Just in the past week, 15,000 people around the world lost their lives to COVID-19," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
"Over the past four weeks, reported deaths globally have increased by 35 per cent."
Many people have died from the "dormant" Omicron variant.
Tedros added that despite having the tools to fight the virus, there are factors contributing to its spread.
"This is completely unacceptable when we have all the tools to prevent infections and save lives," he said.
He said WHO’s efforts to respond to outbreaks, providing vaccination against the virus and distribution other life-saving health services have been hindered by fuel scarcity.
"The shortage of fuel and cash continues to be a major impediment to the distribution of aid," he added.
Tedros urged people to continue taking vaccines and booster jabs to help in fighting the virus.
