Coronavirus Watch: Pandemic is at 'critical juncture,' WHO says

The pandemic has reached a "critical juncture" and if nations use all available tools the world can end the "acute phase" of the pandemic this year, the World Health Organization's director said Monday.

"We can end COVID-19 as a global health emergency, and we can do it this year," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at an annual WHO board meeting. "But it's dangerous to assume that omicron will be the last variant or that we are in the end game. On the contrary, globally the conditions are ideal for more variants to emerge."

At least 86 countries have not fully vaccinated 40% of their populations, and dozens more have not vaccinated 10% of their populations. About 85% of the population of Africa has not received a single dose, he said.

"Vaccines alone are not the golden ticket out of this pandemic, but there is no path out unless we achieve our shared target of vaccinating 70% of the population of every country by the middle of this year," he said.

It's Monday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• Half the states on Sunday reported fewer COVID-19 patients in hospital beds than the previous week. Dr. Anthony Fauci, speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," said the omicron-driven surge could soon wane across the nation.
• The Supreme Court on Monday turned away a lawsuit challenging proxy voting rules set up by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in response to the pandemic. The decision to not hear the case lets stand a federal appeals court ruling that said courts are barred from reviewing the internal rules of the House of Representatives.
• A bill in California would allow children ages 12 and older to be vaccinated without their parents’ consent. If passed, the legislation would ensure California has the youngest age of any state allowing children to make their own decisions about vaccines. 
• High school graduation rates dipped in at least 20 states after the first full school year disrupted by the pandemic, according to a new study by education news site Chalkbeat.
• Seven school districts in Virginia filed suit challenging the constitutionality of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's updated school mask order. Youngkin took office Jan. 15 and announced plans for a parental opt-out from school mask mandates. The CDC recommends masks in schools for everyone over age 2.

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. See total reported cases and deaths here. On vaccinations: About 75% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 63% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck