Global Surge in COVID-19 Cases: Positivity Rate Hits 11%
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a significant global surge in COVID-19 cases since mid-February 2025. Test positivity rates have reached an alarming 11% – a level not seen since July 2024. The increase is primarily observed in countries across the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions.
According to WHO data, the circulation of the LP.8.1 variant has been declining. On the other hand, the reporting of NB.1.8.1, a Variant Under Monitoring, is on the rise. It now accounts for 10.7% of global sequences. The NB.1.8.1 variant has shown increased circulation across multiple WHO regions, jumping from 8.9% to 11.7% in the Western Pacific region.
Despite the surge, WHO maintains that there is no increased public health risk from these variants compared to other circulating strains. However, there is a critical concern regarding the COVID-19 vaccine uptake among high-risk groups. The uptake remains critically low, with only 1.68% of older adults receiving doses in 2024 across 75 reporting countries.