World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that the Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace, driving a new spike in cases and deaths. He warned that the variant, now in over 104 countries, is expected to soon be the dominant Covid-19 strain circulating globally.
In places with high vaccination coverage, Delta is spreading quickly; especially infecting unprotected and vulnerable people and steadily putting pressure back on health systems.
For health workers that have been in a titanic battle for more than a year and have record waiting lists to attend to, increased hospitalisations at any level is a challenge to them and their patients and to the overall capacity of the health system.
As countries lift public health and social measures, they must consider the impact on health workers and health systems.
In countries with low vaccine coverage, the situation is particularly bad.
Delta and other highly transmissible variants are driving catastrophic waves of case, which are translating into high numbers of hospitalisations and death.
Last week marked the fourth consecutive week of increasing cases of COVID-19 globally, with increases recorded in all but one of WHO’s six regions. And after 10 weeks of declines, deaths are increasing again.
The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace, driving a new spike in cases and deaths. Delta is now in more than 104 countries and we expect it to soon be the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide.
The global gap in vaccine supply is hugely uneven and inequitable. Over the weekend, the G20 finance ministers recognized the importance of funding the ACT Accelerator so that the world can ensure tests, treatments and vaccines are distributed equitably and I hope this translates quickly to filling the $16 billion funding gap.
Addressing a press briefing on Monday, Tedros said that last week marked the fourth consecutive week of increasing cases of Covid-19 globally, adding that with concern that after 10 weeks of declines, deaths are increasing again. “The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace, driving a new spike in cases and death,” Tedros said, according to a news agency.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that Delta and other highly transmissible variants are driving catastrophic waves of case which are translating into high numbers of hospitalisations and death.
Delta Variant is now in more than 104 countries and we expect it to soon be the dominant Covid-19 strain circulating worldwide,” he said, adding that the world is watching in real-time as the Covid-19 virus continues to change and become more transmissible.
“My message today is that we are experiencing a worsening public health emergency that further threatens lives, livelihoods and a sound global economic recovery. It is definitely worse in places that have very few vaccines, but the pandemic is not over anywhere,” he said. Tedros underscored that the world should battle together to put out this Covid-19 pandemic inferno everywhere.
