**Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 500 Million**.
As of July 5, 2023, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 500 million, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The United States remains the country with the highest number of cases, followed by India, Brazil, France, and Germany..
**WHO Director-General Calls for Continued Vigilance**.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for continued vigilance against COVID-19, emphasizing that the pandemic is not over. He urged countries to maintain testing and surveillance efforts, and to ensure that vulnerable populations are vaccinated and protected..
**New Omicron Variant BA.5 Becomes Dominant Strain**.
The Omicron variant BA.5 has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 globally. This subvariant is believed to be more transmissible and immune-evasive than previous strains, but it generally causes less severe disease..
**Global Vaccination Efforts Continue**.
Vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 are ongoing worldwide. According to the WHO, over 12 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered globally. However, there are still significant disparities in vaccination rates between countries..
**Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Economy**.
The long-term impact of COVID-19 on health and the economy is still being studied. Some studies have suggested that the virus can lead to lingering symptoms, known as .
