WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There will be a second Global COVID-19 Summit held virtually next month for countries to discuss efforts to end the pandemic and prepare for future health threats, according to a joint statement on Monday.

       "The emergence and spread of new variants, like Omicron, have reinforced the need for a strategy aimed at controlling COVID-19 worldwide," the White House said in a news release with the Group of Seven and Group of 20 nations.

       (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)