Medical staff takes COVID-19 test samples in Singapore. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

According to a WHO report, between November 20 and December 17, there was a significant increase in the number of COVID cases, with 105 countries reporting a total of 850,000 new cases, 52% more than in the previous 28-day period. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 decreased 8%, however, to 3,000 fatalities in the period.

Southeast Asia reported a surge in cases, a 388% increase in less than a month. Indonesia saw the greatest increase in new cases: 3,700.

As the world transitions from an emergency response to a long-term prevention and control strategy, the WHO emphasized the need for testing, gene sequencing, and reporting.

The WHO called on countries to bolster surveillance and prevention measures for the SARS-COV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, and its JN.1 variant.