The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other aid groups last month appealed to leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies to fund a $23.4 billion plan to bring Covid-19 vaccines, tests, and drugs to poorer countries in the next 12 months. Less than 5% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.

More than half of the world's population has yet to receive a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data. Several Russian regions said this week they could impose additional restrictions or extend a workplace shutdown to fight a surge in Covid-19 cases as the country witnesses record deaths due to the disease.ДЄlso read: Russia registers all-time high number of coronavirus cases More than half of all new infections reported worldwide were from countries in Europe, with a million new infections about every four days, according to the analysis. Infections are still rising in 55 out of 240 countries, with Russia, Ukraine and Greece at or near record levels of reported cases since the pandemic started two years ago, according to a Reuters analysis.Д®astern Europe has among the lowest vaccination rates in the region. Studies showed it could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those most at risk of developing severe Covid-19 when given early in the illness. Britain on Thursday became the first country in the world to approve a potentially game-changing Covid-19 antiviral pill jointly developed by Merck (MRK.N) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics called molnupiravir. In addition to vaccines, doctors now have better treatments. where we can significantly reduce severe disease and death,' Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist leading the World Health Organisation, told Reuters. 'We think between now and the end of 2022, this is the point where we get control over this virus. Read more: US braces for surge of vaccinated international travellers Health experts are optimistic that many nations have put the worst of the pandemic behind them thanks to vaccines and natural exposure, although they caution that colder weather and upcoming holiday gatherings could increase cases.

It took nearly a year to record the first 50 million Covid cases. Over the last three months, the daily average number of cases has fallen by 36%, according to a Reuters analysis.Д®ven though the spread has slowed, the virus is still infecting 50 million people every 90 days due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, the analysis showed. Worldwide cases due to Covid-19 were approaching 250 million on Sunday as the surge from the Delta variant eases and more normal trade and tourism resume, although some countries in eastern Europe are experiencing record outbreaks.

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