"WHO Reports Nearly 10,000 Global COVID-19 Deaths in December, Highlighting Holiday Transmission"
The World Health Organization reported nearly 10,000 COVID-19 deaths in December, with a 42% increase in hospital admissions in nearly 50 countries, mainly in Europe and the Americas. The JN.1 variant, a form of the Omicron variant, is now the most prominent globally, leading to increased transmission. WHO officials urge continued surveillance, access to treatments and vaccines, and recommend vaccination, mask-wearing, and well-ventilated indoor spaces to mitigate the spread.