The Delta variant is now largely in the majority in Europe, the regional branch of the WHO and the European Diseases Agency confirmed on Friday, calling in particular for an increase in free tests and other case control measures.
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WHO Europe and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) jointly called on European countries to "
step up their efforts
" to prevent contagion, in a joint statement. "
WHO recommends that countries increase access to free tests, expand sequencing, encourage contact cases to quarantine and confirmed cases in isolation, strengthen tracing to break chains of transmission and ensure that those most at risk are vaccinated
”, indicates the UN organization.
In the thirty or so European countries which have provided sufficient data, the Delta variant is in the majority in 19 nations.
In these countries, the median share of the variant initially detected in India is around 70%, according to the latest data available from the WHO.
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this week around the world (+ 9%) especially in Europe (+ 26%) and the United States, where the jump exceeds 60%, under the effect of the Delta variant, according to a AFP report stopped on Thursday.
"Moderate" level of worry
In Europe, the rebound has been continuous for about a month, according to health authorities. According to the latest ECDC projections released on Friday, the number of new cases is expected to continue to rise and more than double in the next four weeks. The European agency in charge of diseases, which follows 30 countries including the 27 of the European Union has already raised from "
low
" to "
moderate
" its level of concern currently linked to Covid-19 in Europe. Four countries (Spain, Portugal, Malta and Cyprus) are classified as “
high
”
concern
.
