People walk in a crowded street as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Mexico City, Mexico January 12, 2022 [Gustavo Graf/ Reuters]

Geneva, January 13 (RHC)-- Global COVID-19 cases reached a record high last week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with 15 million people testing positive for the coronavirus in the seven days to January 9th.

The figure marks a 55 percent increase from the previous seven days, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday, adding that the “huge spike” was being driven by the Omicron variant.

While the highly infectious strain causes less severe disease than the Delta variant, Tedros says the Omicron remains a “dangerous virus”, particularly for those who are not vaccinated.

The WHO chief’s comments came as Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hokestra announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 and teachers in France launched a strike over the government’s “chaotic” virus strategy for schools.