COVID-19 declining in Europe but rising in other parts of world: WHO

While COVID-19 cases are declining in Europe, America is bearing brunt of global pandemic,  World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, ting that rth and South America currently have four of 10 worst-hit countries in world.

Expressing concern over situation in Brazil and Mexico, WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said disease was "highly active" in Central and South America.

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dressing a press briefing, Ryan said that Brazil has emerged as one of global hot-spots for virus, with COVID-19 cases on rise in heavily-populated cities. country's health system was "still coping", although some intensive care units were under heavy pressure with more than 90 percent bed occupancy rates, Ryan ted.

Meanwhile, Mexico has nearly 130,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 15,000 deaths, WHO informed. Brazil stands as second worst-hit country in world, with over 800,000 cases and 41,000 deaths. Both countries are behind United States, country with highest record of infections -- more than 2 million cases and nearly 114,000 deaths.

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'Europe still t safe'

Mike Ryan also ackwledged that several countries are facing troubles in relaxing lockdown measures due to rise in COVID-19 positive cases. WHO director-general Tedros ham Ghebreyesus called for vigilance against dangerous virus even in regions where it appeared to be on decline. He said even Europe cant be called safe at moment because virus can resurface in country.

Amid concerns that some countries could hoard any vaccines developed to treat COVID-19, Tedros stated firmly that any vaccine or drug should be shared fairly between countries to overcome pandemic. Vaccines should be me available for global public good, to ensure everyone has fair access to any life-saving products that are developed, Tedros said.

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