WHO: Pacific region has entered new COVID-19 phase

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said that the Western Pacific region has entered a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response and urged regional governments to continue to promote behavior that protects community health.

"It is the phase where governments will need to deal with multiple increases or surges, but in a sustainable way," said WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr. Takeshi Kasai.

He said that governments will need to have earlier targeted responses to outbreaks, continue to improve healthcare systems, and promote healthy "new normal" habits that will help prevent the spread of the virus.

"Approaches like this could be more effective and minimize social disruptions and impact on economies," Kasai said.

The WHO also warned that countries in the region - such as Australia, the Philippines and Japan - are reporting increasing numbers of people under 40 contracting the virus.

"The pandemic is changing. People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving its spread. Many are unaware they are infected with very mild symptoms, or none at all. This can result in them unknowingly passing on the virus to others," Kasai said.