The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the Delta variant, which is very contagious and which is already the cause of more than three quarters of new cases of Covid in many large countries, is predominant in the next months.
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This variant, which was first detected in India, is now present in 124 countries and territories, 13 more than last week, compared to 180 (six more) for the Alpha, unearthed in the United Kingdom. , 130 (seven more) for the Beta, identified for the first time in South Africa, and 78 (three more) for the Gamma, appeared in Brazil, underlined the WHO.
The Delta variant causes more than 75% of new cases
"
It is expected that it (the Delta variant) will quickly supplant the other variants and become the dominant lineage (of the Covid) in circulation in the coming months
", continued this UN agency headquartered in Geneva . Among the countries where the Delta variant is now the cause of more than 75% of new cases of this disease, we find India, China, Russia, Indonesia, Australia, Bangladesh, United Kingdom United, South Africa, Australia, Portugal and Israel.
"
However, we still do not know what is the exact mechanism
" at the origin of the greater transmissibility "of this variant compared to others, recognized the WHO.
About 3.4 million additional cases of Covid were identified during the week of July 12 to 18, 12% more than the previous week, she said.
57,000 deaths from Covid per week
"
At this rate, the cumulative number of reported cases (since the start of the pandemic) worldwide is expected to exceed 200 million in the next three weeks,
" the WHO warned.
This explains this trend by four factors: more transmissible variants, a relaxation in public health measures, stronger social interaction and the fact that many people are not vaccinated.
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Last week, the number of new cases rose 30% in the Western Pacific region and 21% in the Europe region, as defined by the WHO. Indonesia recorded the most: 350,273, an increase of 44%, followed by the United Kingdom (296,447, + 41%) and Brazil (287,610, down 14%). The weekly death toll, 57,000, however, remained stable compared to the previous week.