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Global confirmed virus cases exceed 500 million

The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 500 million with nearly 6.2 million deaths as a highly contagious Omicron sub-variant surged.

A Swiss COVID-19 outdoor testing center
A Swiss COVID-19 outdoor testing center (AN/J. Heilprin)

GENEVA (AN) — The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 500 million with nearly 6.2 million deaths on Wednesday as a highly contagious Omicron sub-variant surged in Asia and Europe.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, however, said during the previous week the lowest number of COVID-19 deaths was recorded since the pandemic began in 2020. Some countries still suffer from a serious spike in cases that pressures hospitals but "our ability to monitor trends is compromised as testing has significantly reduced," he told a press briefing.

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