The World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday warned that the world was in a very dangerous period of the COVID-19 pandemic as the highly infectious delta variant, which is continuing to evolve and mutate, was now identified in more than 100 countries, reported The Mint.
“Delta variant is dangerous and is continuing to evolve and mutate, which requires constant evaluation and careful adjustment of the public health response,” Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing.
The WHO chief warned that the Delta variant, which was first detected in India, was quickly becoming the dominant strain in many countries. He added that hospitals and medical institutions were again getting over-flooded with patients, especially in countries with low vaccination coverage.
Tedros suggested that vaccination would effectively end the acute phase of the pandemic.
“I have already urged leaders across the world to ensure that by this time next year, 70 percent of all people in every country are vaccinated,” the WHO chief said.
He said it is within the collective power of a few countries to take initiative and ensure that vaccines are shared, noting that over 3 billion doses of vaccine have already been distributed globally.
However, he warned that the inequality in the inoculation process could be a major concern, if not checked at the right time. Of the total Covid-19 jabs administered globally, less than two percent have been in poorer countries.
The WHO chief said there are essentially two ways for countries to push back against new surges. He said maintaining public health and social measures like strong surveillance, strategic testing, early case detection, isolation, and clinical care are very important. He added that wearing masks, physical distance, avoiding crowded places, and keeping indoor areas well ventilated is also crucial to keep the coronavirus at bay.
