WHO: COVID-19 cases rise for 2nd straight week, deaths fall
LA TimesCommunity workers watch a masked resident twirl a dragon-shaped ribbon near a coronavirus testing site in Beijing. The number of new coronavirus cases globally increased by 7% in the last week, driven largely by rising infections in the Western Pacific, even as reported deaths from COVID-19 fell, the World Health Organization said. Confirmed infections had been falling steadily worldwide since January but rose again last week, due to the more infectious Omicron variant and its subvariant BA.2, in addition to the suspension of COVID-19 protocols in numerous countries in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Last week, British Health Minister Sajid Javid said U.K. residents should brace for a jump in coronavirus infections but that the country was still “in a very good position” due to its high vaccination levels. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said this week that authorities would consider relaxing some of its strict pandemic measures as cases begin to fall after weeks of rising cases overloaded hospitals and cemeteries.