The World Health Organization is warning that the Covid-19 pandemic has entered the “early stages of a third wave” as the fast-spreading Delta variant of the virus causes cases to spike, wiping out the progress made through vaccines.
- The number of infections globally has risen for four straight weeks, with the Delta variant now present in 111 countries, and deaths are rising again after 10 straight weeks of declines. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that “the Delta variant is being fueled by increased social mixing and inconsistent use of public health measures.”
- According to WHO, the virus has killed more than 4 million globally, and Ghebreyesus sees the Delta variant becoming the dominant strain worldwide.
- Russia reported a record-high 786 Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday, and new infections in the UK are at a six-month high.
- In Indonesia, case rates have jumped nearly sevenfold in the past month; residents are reportedly pitching in to help gravediggers keep up with the nearly 1,000 daily deaths.
- The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be held under unprecedented conditions and tight quarantine rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections. Yet, several cases have emerged involving athletes and other people involved with the Games.
- Eight athletes from the Kenya women’s rugby team were classified as close contacts after finding a positive coronavirus case on their flight to Tokyo, said an official with the southwestern city of Kurume, where they were set to hold a training camp.
Ghebreyesus told reporters earlier this week that it’s dangerous for rich countries to think Covid-19 is no longer their problem as they reach high vaccination rates, saying such short-sightedness will prolong “the hostage drama by the virus.”
