Illustrative image of the SARS-CoV-2 virus provided by the US Food and Drug Administration (Photo: AFP/VNA)

WHO expert Maria Van Kerkhove told a discussion on WHO’s social media channels that the virus, SARS-CoV-2, is circulating in every country right now and still poses a threat. According to Van Kerkhove, there are currently three variants of interest (XBB.1.5, XXB.1.16 and EG.5) and six variants being monitored. One of the six, BA.2.86, is being moved up to become a variant of interest.

She said that they have evidence that vaccination with Covid-19 vaccines would reduce the risk of acquiring a post-Covid condition, adding that 13.5 billion Covid-19 vaccines had been administered worldwide.