Spread of COVID-19's Delta variant will substantially up cases, put pressure on healthcare: WHO
United Nations/Geneva: The increased transmissibility associated with the COVID-19's Delta variant is likely to substantially increase cases and put a greater pressure on healthcare systems, particularly in the contexts of low vaccine coverage, the WHO has warned.
In its COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on Tuesday, the World Health Organisation said that an overall rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant is reported across all WHO regions.
As of July 13, at least 111 countries, territories and areas have reported detection of the Delta variant, and this is expected to continue to increase, becoming the dominant variant globally in the coming months.
The increased transmissibility associated with the Delta variant is likely to result in substantial increases in case incidence and greater pressure on healthcare systems, particularly in contexts of low vaccine coverage, it said.
Globally, cases of the Alpha variant have been reported in 178 countries, territories or areas, while 123 countries reported cases of the Beta variant, 75 countries reported cases of the Gamma variant.
The update said that the Delta variant has shown higher transmissibility than other Variants of Concerns (VOCs) identified to date.
The increased transmissibility means that it is likely to become the dominant variant globally over the coming months, the update said.
It said that the emergence of more transmissible variants, coupled with the relaxation and inappropriate use of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) and increased social mobility and mixing and low vaccination coverage in many countries continue to contribute to rapid surges in incidence, hospitalisations and deaths in many countries.
Moreover, in large parts of the world, there remain gaps in epidemiological surveillance, testing and genomic sequencing, and this limits our ability to monitor and assess the impact of current and future variants in a timely manner, it said.
The update noted that as countries gradually resume non-essential international travel, the introduction of risk mitigation measures aiming to reduce travel-associated exportation, importation and onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 should be based on thorough risk assessments conducted systematically and routinely.
Almost a quarter (24.7 per cent) of the world's population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine - over three billion doses administered. However, there are vast inequities in vaccine distribution and administration with the majority of vaccines administered in a small number of high and upper-middle-income countries.
The update of the COVAX facility has been working to reduce this gap, but a large proportion of the world's population remains susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The breadth and quality of evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of current vaccines against emerging variants remains limited; nevertheless, the available evidence suggests full vaccination offers high levels of protection against severe disease and death for all four VOCs, with mixed evidence as to the impacts on infection, mild-moderate disease and transmission.
Virus evolution and the phenotypic impacts of all variants, including potential immune escape, require close monitoring and assessment, including the possible need for future adjustments to vaccine composition, vaccination strategies and/or coverage targets, it said.
The global number of new cases reported last week (July 5-11, 2021) was nearly 3 million, a 10 per cent increase as compared to the previous week. Following a steady decline for nine consecutive weeks, the number of weekly deaths increased by 3 per cent this week compared to the previous week, with over 55,000 deaths reported, the update said.
Globally, COVID-19 incidence increased with an average of over 4,00,000 cases reported each day as compared to 3,70,000 from the previous week.
The cumulative number of cases reported globally is now over 186 million and the number of deaths exceeds 4 million.
This week, all regions with the exception of the Americas recorded an increase in incidence. The Eastern Mediterranean Region recorded the largest increase in incidence (25 per cent) followed by European Region with a 20 per cent increase as compared to the previous week.
The African Region had the smallest percentage increase in incidence with a 5 per cent increase. However, the region recorded a 50 per cent increase in the number of deaths as compared to the previous week.
The South-East Asia Region also recorded a significant increase in the number of deaths, reporting a 26 per cent increase as compared to the previous week. The Region of the Americas reported a 3 per cent decline in incidence and an 11 per cent decrease in the number of deaths reported last week.
The update said that the highest number of new cases were reported from Brazil (333,030 new cases; 9 per cent decrease), India (291,789 new cases; 7 per cent decrease), Indonesia (243,119 new cases; 44 per cent increase), the United Kingdom (210,277 new cases; 30 per cent increase) and Colombia (174,320 new cases; 15 per cent decrease).
In the South-East Asia Region, the highest numbers of new deaths were reported from India (6,035 new deaths; 0.4 new deaths per 100,000; a 4 per cent decrease), Indonesia (5,882 new deaths; 2.2 new deaths per 100,000; a 71 per cent increase) and Bangladesh (1,354 new deaths; 0.8 new deaths per 100,000; a 52 per cent increase).
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Congress plotting to send Ram Lala to tent again: PM Modi
Giridih (Jharkhand), May 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked the Congress, accusing it of indulging in "shameful" politics and plotting to send "Ram Lala to tent" again.
Alleging that the JMM, Congress and INDIA bloc have become the biggest model of corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, Modi said he has resolved to free India from these vices.
Addressing a public meeting at Jharkhand's Giridih, the prime minister said, "Shameful statements are being issued by Congress leaders over Ram temple. Their leaders are plotting to send Ram Lala to the tent once again, and talk against the Supreme Court judgement."
The old idol of Ram Lala was kept in a tent-like structure after the Babri Masjid was demolished.
They want to lock the premises again, he claimed and urged people to oust such "corrupt" forces.
Modi said, "Congress forced the nation to Naxalism and destroyed several families, whereas BJP contained Naxal violence in the country."
Asserting that the tribal region of Jharkhand bore the brunt of Naxalism, Modi promised that during his third term as the prime minister, he would wipe out Naxalism and terrorism from the face of the country.
Modi alleged that the JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand has been patronising infiltrators in the state.
He said his topmost priority would be giving priority to deprived people.
The prime minister also said that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir is one of the biggest steps in the interest of the nation and he is happy that the people there could celebrate the festival of democracy on Monday after decades.
The Srinagar constituency witnessed voting on Monday in the first Lok Sabha election in the Valley since the scrapping of Article 370.
He said INDIA bloc leaders are "dreaming of digging Modi's grave", but he is well protected with "suraksha kavach" of love and affection of people.
"I was not born in a royal family; I was poor. I have lived in poverty and have vowed to free my people from it,” Modi said, adding that this was the reason his government introduced Ayushman Bharat scheme for providing healthcare to the poor and set up AIIMS hospitals in various places including one in Jharkhand’s Deoghar.
He said his government has been providing food grains free to 80 crore people and promised to continue this for the next five years, if voted to power.
Referring to the UPA administration, Modi alleged that during the “Sonia Ben government”, food grains were subjected to rot but not distributed.
Citing instances of recovery of huge cash found at premises linked to Congress leaders in Jharkhand, the prime minister asserted that the JMM-led alliance in the state is neck-deep in corruption.
"JMM and Congress dance to the tune of 'Shahi Parivar'. I will not allow thieves to sleep peacefully,” he said, adding that no corrupt people would be spared.
Modi also said that Jharkhand was devoid of benefits of its minerals including mica in Koderma, but it was his government that ensured that tribal areas get the mineral funds for development.
"During the Congress-JMM regime people got nothing, no benefits of mica were accrued to people. But Modi has ensured Rs 12,000 crore to Jharkhand under District Mineral Fund," he said.
He charged the JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand with patronising infiltrators who were grabbing the land of tribal women by marrying them.
"INDIA bloc has openly announced Vote-Jihad against Modi," he said.
The prime minister said he has resolved to make three crore women "lakhpati didis".
The Lakhpati Didi scheme of the central government is aimed at training women in self-help groups so that they can earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum.
Referring to Jhumri Telaiya, a town in Koderma that shot to fame for the maximum number of requests for songs for then Radio Ceylon and Vividh Bharti, Modi said it is "more beautiful than its name" and apologized for the delay in arriving.
The prime minister's rally was initially scheduled at 9 am which was postponed to 1.30 pm and finally started around 5 pm.
He said, "I have brought blessings of Bholebaba from Kashi. I filed my nomination and after filing nomination, this is my first public meeting.'"
A strong government keeps the interest of its people while a weak government as those headed by the Congress weakens the nation, Modi claimed.
Modi was campaigning for Union minister Annapurna Devi who is contesting from Koderma Lok Sabha seat, BJP ally AJSU Party's candidate Chandra Prakash Chaudhary from Giridih Lok Sabha constituency and BJP nominee for Gandey assembly seat Dilip Kumar Verma.
Jailed former Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren is contesting bypoll to Gandey assembly segment which comes under Koderman Lok Sabha constituency.
The elections to these seats will be held on May 20.
