The COVID-19 pandemic is raging almost out of control in North and South America -- today, the global epidemic epicenter -- and is "going to get worse and worse and worse" until countries in the region take decisive action to stem the spread.
This dire assessment was made on Monday by the World Health Organization (WHO) amid a terrifying surge in new cases in the Americas. On Saturday, WHO said about 143,000 of the world's 230,000 new cases (or 62%) were in North and South America. Of this total, some 57,400 new cases, or 40%, were accounted for by the United States.
WHO said the U.S. and Brazil had 111,319 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, or half of all new cases worldwide. Also on Sunday, the U.S. accounted for 3.4 million out of the world's 13.0 million total COVID-19 cases. Brazil reported 1.87 million cases. The U.S. and Brazil lead the world in the total number of COVID-19 cases.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the epicenter of the global pandemic remains the Americas, where more than 50% of the world's cases have been recorded.
"It would appear that many countries are losing gains made as proven measures to reduce risk are not implemented or followed," said Dr. Tedros.
In contrast, the situation in the rest of the world, while serious, isn't as dire as in the Americas. WHO said European countries confirmed 18,804 new cases on Saturday. African countries reported 17,884 new cases while Southeast Asian nations reported 33,173 new cases.
"Let me be blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction," said Dr. Tedros.
He said several countries across the world are now seeing dangerous increases in COVID-19 cases. He also said hospital wards are filling-up once again.
WHO pointed out countries that managed to place the pandemic under control did so through robust and basic practices of testing, tracing , and isolating those infected or exposed to the virus. Dr. Tedros warned without those steps, life won't return to normal anytime soon.
"If the basics aren't followed, there is only one way this pandemic is going to go: It is going to get worse, and worse, and worse," said Dr. Tedros.
"There will be no return to the old normal for the foreseeable future. But there is a roadmap to a situation where we can control the disease and get on with our lives."
WHO affirms the U.S. remains the hardest hit of any country in the world. It said the U.S. had 66,281 new cases on Saturday and 57,789 on Sunday.
COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continued to peak at record levels over the weekend. On Sunday, Florida admitted to more than 15,000 new cases, shattering the single-day record high reported by any state.
Florida now has more cases than several major nations. As of Sunday, cases are increasing by 5% or more in 37 states and in Washington, D.C.
