Delta variant in at least 98 countries, continues to mutate: WHO

The Delta variant of Covid-19 has been detected in at least 98 countries and continues to evolve and mutate, the World Health Organisation warned yesterday.

"The Delta variant is dangerous and is continuing to evolve and mutate, which requires 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," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said.

He said there are essentially two ways for countries to push back against new 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 are the basis for the response," he added.

The WHO DG said the world must share protective gear, oxygen, tests, treatments and vaccines equitably.

"I have urged leaders across the world to work together to ensure that by this time next year, 70 percent of all people in every country are vaccinated. This is the best way to slow the pandemic, save lives, drive a truly global economic recovery and along the way prevent further dangerous variants from getting the upper hand," he said.

"By the end of this September, we're calling on leaders to vaccinate at least 10 percent of people in all countries. This would protect health workers and those at most risk, effectively ending the acute stage of the pandemic and saving a lot of lives."

The DG said, "…I urge those companies -- BioNTech, Pfizer and Moderna -- to share their knowhow so that we can speed up the development of new production. The sooner we start building more vaccine hubs and upping global vaccine capacity, the sooner we can diminish deadly surges."