The World Health Organisation, on Wednesday, warned that the coronavirus disease is still a major threat despite partially passing under the radar.

The United Nations agency noted that almost 10,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported in December, saying data from various sources pointed to increased transmission last month, fuelled by gatherings over the Christmas holiday period and by the JN.1 variant, which is now the most commonly reported around the globe.

“Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the virus is still circulating, changing, and killing,” WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said.

AFP reports that besides the near 10,000 deaths reported to the WHO last month, there was a 42 per cent increase in hospitalisations and a 62 per cent increase in intensive care unit admissions, compared with November.

However, the figures are based on data from less than 50 countries – mostly in Europe and the Americas, Tedros said.

“It is certain that there are also increases in other countries that are not being reported.

“Just as governments and individuals take precautions against other diseases, we must all continue to take precautions against COVID-19.

“Although 10,000 deaths a month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this level of preventable death is not acceptable,” Tedros said, urging governments to maintain virus surveillance and sequencing and to ensure access to affordable and reliable tests, treatments and vaccines.

“And we continue to call on individuals to be vaccinated, to test, to wear masks where needed and to ensure crowded indoor spaces are well-ventilated,” he said.