COVID-19 Delta variant in 98 countries, continues to mutate – WHO

The World Health Organisation Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, warned against the COVID-19 Delta variant in 98 countries that continue to mutate.

Ghebreyesus warned that as  the Delta variant was quickly becoming the dominant strain in many countries, “We are in a very dangerous period of the pandemic.

“In those countries with low COVID-19 vaccination coverage, terrible scenes of hospitals overflowing are again becoming the norm. But no country is out of the woods yet.

“The Delta variant was dangerous’and continued to evolve and mutate, and thus requiring constant evaluation and careful adjustment of the public health response.

“Delta has been detected in at least 98 countries and is spreading quickly in countries with low and high vaccination coverage,” he warned.

The WHO chief explained that there were essentially two ways for countries to push back against the new COVID-19 surges.

Public health and social measures like strong surveillance, strategic testing, early case detection, isolation and clinical care remain critical, as well as masking, physical distance, avoiding crowded places and keeping indoor areas well ventilated.

The second way, was through the global sharing of protective gear, oxygen, tests, treatments and vaccines.

“I have urged leaders across the world to work together to ensure that by this time next year, 70 per cent of all people in every country are vaccinated.”

According to him, it is the best way to slow the pandemic, save lives, drive a truly global economic recovery and prevent further dangerous variants from getting the upper hand.

WHO is calling on leaders to vaccinate at least 10 per cent of people as soon as possible, in all countries, to ensure that health workers and those most at risk are protected.

Ensuring this would effectively end the acute stage of the pandemic and save a significant number of lives.

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