The number of new coronavirus infections globally rose last week for the first time in seven weeks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the rise in cases was "disappointing but not surprising" and urged countries not to relax measures to fight the disease.

It was too early for countries to rely solely on vaccination programs and abandon other measures, he said.

Adding: "Reported cases increased in four of the WHO's six regions: the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia and the eastern Mediterranean."
 

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The rise comes amid the growing distribution of vaccines. At the time of writing, 244 million people have been vaccinated with at least the first dose. The countries that have vaccinated the most people – including Israel, the UK and the U.S. – have recorded declining COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations. 

Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergencies expert, said the global fight against the coronavirus was in a better state now than it was 10 weeks ago, before the distribution of vaccines had begun. But it was too early to say the virus was coming under control.

"The issue is of us being in control of the virus and the virus being in control of us. And right now, the virus is very much in control."

Video editor: Jason Wright