As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 appear more contagious and less lethal, several Western countries, where cases have been falling in recent weeks, have decided to lift restrictions.

In its latest report issued on Tuesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the number of new weekly COVID-19 cases increased by eight per cent last week.

“The number of new deaths continued a decreasing trend,’’ globally down by 17 per cent last week as compared to the week from February 28 to March 6, the WHO added.

In the United States, the worst-hit country with the highest caseload and the most deaths globally, President Joe Biden called on Americans to return to office.

Earlier this month, Mr Biden urged Americans to “fill our great downtowns again” in his State of the Union Address.

Across the Atlantic, the British government said Monday that all remaining COVID-19 international travel restrictions would end Friday to make going on holiday easier for the Easter school vacation.

France also lifted most coronavirus bans on Monday, ending the need to wear masks in schools, offices and shops, and allowing the unvaccinated back into bars, restaurants and cinemas.

On Tuesday, Dutch Health Minister Ernst Kuiper announced that the government would further scale down COVID-19 rules from next Wednesday.

In Oceania, daily COVID-19 cases have fallen in Australia but are still rising in New Zealand.

Australia said on Tuesday that it was about to ease its entry ban for international cruise ships next month, bringing an end to all major COVID-19 travel bans.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said Wednesday that the country was “ready to welcome the world back’’ as the nation continued to ease its coronavirus restrictions.

(Xinhua/NAN)