Delta variant to become dominant strain of COVID-19 in coming months: WHO
United Nations/Geneva: The World Health Organization has said the Delta variant of COVID-19 is now present in nearly 100 countries as per conservative estimates, and warned that in the coming months the highly transmissible strain will become the dominant variant of the coronavirus globally.
In its COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, the WHO said as of June 29, 2021, "96 countries have reported cases of the Delta variant, though this is likely an underestimate as sequencing capacities needed to identify variants are limited. A number of these countries are attributing surges in infections and hospitalisations to this variant."
Given the increase in transmissibility, the WHO warned that the Delta variant is "expected to rapidly outcompete other variants and become the dominant variant over the coming months."
The world body noted that the tools that exist today to combat the coronavirus individual, community level-public health and social measures, infection prevention and control measures that have been used since the beginning of the pandemic remain effective against current variants of concern (VOCs), including the Delta variant.
"Although the increased transmissibility of VOCs (Variants of Concern) means that measures may need to be maintained for longer periods of time, particularly in a context of low vaccination coverage, these measures must be targeted, time-bound, reinforced and supported by member states," it added.
Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Delta variant is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far and is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations.
"I know that globally there is currently a lot of concern about the Delta variant, and WHO is concerned about it too. Delta is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far... spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations," Ghebreyesus had said.
He had noted that as some countries eased public health and social restrictions, there was a corresponding increase in transmission around the world.
As per latest figures, cases of the Alpha variant have been reported in 172 countries, territories or areas, Beta in 120 countries (one new country), Gamma in 72 countries (one new country) and Delta in 96 countries (11 new countries).
For the first time in several weeks, the highest numbers of new COVID-19 cases were not reported from India.
The update noted that at 521,298, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from Brazil during the June 21-27 week, followed by India (351,218 new cases, a 12 per cent increase over the previous week), Colombia (204,132 new cases, 5 per cent increase), Russia (134,465 new cases, 24 per cent increase) and Argentina (131,824 new cases, 11 per cent decrease).
The South-East Asia Region reported over 573,000 new cases and over 13,000 new deaths, a 5 per cent and a 33 per cent decrease respectively compared to the previous week.
"There is a slight overall decrease in the number of cases reported this week, mostly due to the decrease in the number of cases reported in India," the update said, adding that a number of countries, including Myanmar (112 per cent increase), Indonesia (60 per cent increase) and Bangladesh (48 per cent increase), reported large increases in the number of newly reported cases for this week.
In the region, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from India (351,218 new cases; 25.5 new cases per 100,000; a 21 per cent decrease), Indonesia (125,395 new cases; 45.8 new cases per 100,000; a 60 per cent increase), and Bangladesh (36,738 new cases; 22.3 new cases per 100,000; a 48 per cent increase).
The highest numbers of new deaths were reported from India (9038 new deaths; 0.7 new deaths per 100,000; a 45 per cent decrease over the previous week), Indonesia (2476 new deaths; 0.9 new deaths per 100,000; a 39 per cent increase), and Bangladesh (624 new deaths; 0.4 new deaths per 100,000; a 45 per cent increase).
"Well into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global situation remains highly fragile. While at the global level, trends in cases and deaths have been declining in recent weeks, there is significant variation by region, by country and within countries, the update said.
It said in all WHO regions, there are countries reporting sharp increases in cases and hospitalisations.
There are a number of factors contributing to this, including the emergence and circulation of more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2, increased social mixing and mobility, uneven and inequitable vaccination; and considerable pressure to lift public health and social measures, the WHO said.
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Punjab govt to roll out play-based learning kit 'Khed Pitara' for primary school students
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab government is set to introduce 'Khed Pitara', a play-based learning kit, across public primary schools to ensure joyful and meaningful learning for students, an official statement said on Saturday.
"Far more than a classroom intervention, this initiative represents a long-term investment in Punjab's human capital. By focusing on children between the ages of 3 and 8, the Bhagwant Singh Mann government is strengthening the very foundation of learning at a stage that determines future academic success, confidence and cognitive development," it said.
Punjab's Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, "'Khed Pitara' will ensure that children do not experience schooling as pressure, but as discovery, creativity and confidence-building, and that this initiative reflects the government's commitment to building strong academic foundations that will yield results for decades to come."
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The state government is investing around Rs 9.3 crore in this initiative, and will benefit approximately 7.5 lakh children studying in the foundational stage across Punjab, the statement said.
This initiative reflects the government's commitment to transforming classrooms in the foundational stage from nursery to Class 2 into engaging, child-centred, play-based learning environments that promote learning through play, exploration and hands-on activities, it said.
It is a first-of-its-kind initiative being implemented by the Punjab government at this scale, it added.
All printed materials are being provided in Punjabi to ensure better comprehension and meaningful learning for young children across Punjab, it said.
'Khed Pitara' is a comprehensive play-based learning-teaching material kit designed for children aged 3 to 8 years, covering nursery to Class 2, it said.
The kit promotes experiential, activity-based and joyful learning by enabling children to learn through play, exploration and interaction rather than memorisation.
By shifting the focus from rote learning to activity-based engagement, the government is nurturing curiosity, creativity and confidence in young learners from the very beginning of their educational journey, laying a foundation that will shape Punjab's future workforce and leadership, the statement read.
Through this initiative, classrooms will become more interactive, inclusive and child-friendly by enabling learning through play and exploration, it said.
The kit is designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, improve language and communication skills, foster creativity and imagination, develop problem-solving abilities, support social and emotional growth and reduce stress and fear associated with early schooling, it added.
Instead of passive learning, children will participate in storytelling, games, hands-on activities and collaborative tasks that make learning natural and enjoyable.
"By investing at this foundational stage, the Mann government is ensuring that learning gaps are addressed early, reducing long-term disparities and building a confident generation prepared for higher education and emerging opportunities," the statement said.
The kits, which will be distributed to around 12,856 government primary schools by April 1, include age-appropriate learning materials for early grades such as toys and manipulatives, puzzles and games, story cards and flash cards, posters and activity books, puppets and play materials, along with teacher resource materials.
Each component supports key developmental areas, including language, numeracy, creativity and social learning, ensuring holistic development of children across Punjab.
Teachers handling foundational stage classes will also receive structured support through activity-based teaching materials to strengthen classroom implementation, the statement said.
Procurement has been completed promptly, distribution is in the final stage and work orders are being issued for supply to schools, it said.
Meanwhile, Bains said the state government believes the real transformation of education begins at the foundational stage.
"By investing in children between 3 and 8 years of age, the Mann government is making a strategic, long-term investment in Punjab's future, he said.
