World Health Organisation issues grim warning

The World Health Organisation has issued a grim warning that the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic will be far more deadly.

Official AFP data shows more than 3.3 million people have already died and nearly 161 million have been infected since the first cases were reported in late 2019.

The organisation has appealed for wealthier countries to delay vaccinating younger people and donate doses to poorer nations instead.