Drop in COVID attention could lead to deadly new variant, WHO warns

Lapses in strategies to tackle COVID-19 could create “the perfect conditions” for a deadly new variant to emerge, the World Health Organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Friday. His comments come as China experiences a rebound in infections. WHO’s emergencies director Mike Ryan said he hopes that a coherent and clear strategy emerges in China “that balances the control of the virus with…the livelihoods, wellbeing and human rights of the people.”

• New COVID variant could emerge amid drop in surveillance, vaccination, WHO warns