The world is at risk of losing hard-won gains in fighting COVID-19, as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads, but WHO-approved vaccines remain effective against the disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

The US&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described the Delta variant of the coronavirus as being as transmissible as chickenpox and cautioned it could cause severe disease, the Washington Post said, citing an internal CDC document.

COVID-19 infections have increased by 80&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;over the past four weeks in most regions of the world, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Deaths in Africa, where only 1.5&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the population is vaccinated - rose by 80 per cent&nbsp;over the same period.

"Hard-won gains are in jeopardy or being lost, and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed," Tedros told a news conference.

The Delta variant has been detected in 132 countries, becoming the dominant global strain, according to the WHO.

"The vaccines that are currently approved by the WHO all provide significant protection against severe disease and hospitalization from all the variants, including the Delta variant," said WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan.

"We are fighting the same virus but a virus that has become faster and better adapted to transmitting amongst us humans, that's the change," he said.

Maria van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, said that the Delta variant is about 50&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;more transmissible than ancestral strains of SARS-CoV-2, that first emerged in China in late 2019.

A few countries have reported increased hospitalization rates, but higher rates of mortality have not been recorded from the Delta variant, she said.

Ryan warned that Delta "is a warning that this virus is evolving, but it is also a call to action, that we need to move now, before more dangerous variants emerge".

Tedros, who traveled to Tokyo last week, said he wanted to use the Olympics platform to spread a message on vaccine solidarity.

"Do you really accept 1.5% vaccination in Africa while in some countries it is already 70%?...Is it really wrong to go to the mountain top of the Olympics to call for solidarity? Are you saying that's wrong? I hope not. So, that's why I went," he said.

Rising COVID-19 cases in Tokyo have cast a shadow over the event and organisers on Friday (July 30) reported 27 new Games-related COVID-19 cases including three athletes, bringing the total since July 1 to 220.

"Japan did did its best and IOC of course, they did their best to minimize risk, because nobody should expect zero risk," Tedros said.

Ryan said the risk management in place for the Olympics was extremely comprehensive.

The world is at risk of losing hard-won gains in fighting COVID-19, as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads, but WHO-approved vaccines remain effective against the disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

The world is at risk of losing hard-won gains in fighting COVID-19, as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads, but WHO-approved vaccines remain effective against the disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described the Delta variant of the coronavirus as being as transmissible as chickenpox and cautioned it could cause severe disease, the Washington Post said, citing an internal CDC document. COVID-19 infections have increased by 80 per cent over the past four weeks in most regions of the world, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Deaths in Africa, where only 1.5 per cent of the population is vaccinated - rose by 80 per cent over the same period. "Hard-won gains are in jeopardy or being lost, and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed," Tedros told a news conference. The Delta variant has been detected in 132 countries, becoming the dominant global strain, according to the WHO. "The vaccines that are currently approved by the WHO all provide significant protection against severe disease and hospitalization from all the variants, including the Delta variant," said WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan. "We are fighting the same virus but a virus that has become faster and better adapted to transmitting amongst us humans, that's the change," he said. Maria van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, said that the Delta variant is about 50 per cent more transmissible than ancestral strains of SARS-CoV-2, that first emerged in China in late 2019. A few countries have reported increased hospitalization rates, but higher rates of mortality have not been recorded from the Delta variant, she said. Ryan warned that Delta "is a warning that this virus is evolving, but it is also a call to action, that we need to move now, before more dangerous variants emerge". Tedros, who traveled to Tokyo last week, said he wanted to use the Olympics platform to spread a message on vaccine solidarity. "Do you really accept 1.5% vaccination in Africa while in some countries it is already 70%?...Is it really wrong to go to the mountain top of the Olympics to call for solidarity? Are you saying that's wrong? I hope not. So, that's why I went," he said. Rising COVID-19 cases in Tokyo have cast a shadow over the event and organisers on Friday (July 30) reported 27 new Games-related COVID-19 cases including three athletes, bringing the total since July 1 to 220. "Japan did did its best and IOC of course, they did their best to minimize risk, because nobody should expect zero risk," Tedros said. Ryan said the risk management in place for the Olympics was extremely comprehensive.

Hard-won gains at risk as Delta variant spreads, says World Health Organization

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-unveils-digital-certificate-as-europe-seeks-to-welcome-tourists-388077">Greek</a> authorities sent police to holiday islands amid a surge in coronavirus cases as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) marked the country's Aegean island "dark red".

The government sent police to Mykonos and Ios in order to ensure locals comply with coronavirus protocols. A police force was also reportedly sent to Cycladesc isle&nbsp;as the European disease prevention agency declared that only essential travel was advisable in Aegean islands.

Watch:

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Greek minister Nikos Hardalias added that popular tourist destinations - Mykonos and Ios were just "one step" away from restrictions with worrying situation developing in other islands including Rhodes, Santorini, Zakynthos and Tinos.

The popular tourist island of Mykonos was earlier placed on red alert despite it being considered a vaccination model. The authorities had imposed night curfew and among other restrictions and lifted it later.

Authorities decided to vaccinate 12 and 15-year-olds this week with the Delta variant raging in the country.

The country's parliament had earlier passed a bill to ensure mandatory vaccinations of health workers, including those working in retirement homes as the country ramps up its inoculation drive.

ECDC had predicted a sharp rise in coronavirus cases by August 1 with nearly five times as many new infections in Europe due to the highly transmissible Delta variant.

"The current continuing deterioration of the epidemiological situation in many countries is expected to continue given the rapid increase in the Delta variant," the ECDC report said marking Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain among others which could witness increased deaths.

The health body said 90 per cent of new COVID-19 cases by the end of August could be due to the Delta variant.

"In the most affected countries, the steepest increases and highest notification rates were reported among 15 to 24-year-olds, with limited increases in persons aged over 65 years," the European health agency asserted.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Greek authorities sent police to holiday islands amid a surge in coronavirus cases as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) marked the country's Aegean island "dark red".

Greek authorities sent police to holiday islands amid a surge in coronavirus cases as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) marked the country's Aegean island "dark red". The government sent police to Mykonos and Ios in order to ensure locals comply with coronavirus protocols. A police force was also reportedly sent to Cycladesc isle as the European disease prevention agency declared that only essential travel was advisable in Aegean islands. Watch: Greek minister Nikos Hardalias added that popular tourist destinations - Mykonos and Ios were just "one step" away from restrictions with worrying situation developing in other islands including Rhodes, Santorini, Zakynthos and Tinos. The popular tourist island of Mykonos was earlier placed on red alert despite it being considered a vaccination model. The authorities had imposed night curfew and among other restrictions and lifted it later. Authorities decided to vaccinate 12 and 15-year-olds this week with the Delta variant raging in the country. The country's parliament had earlier passed a bill to ensure mandatory vaccinations of health workers, including those working in retirement homes as the country ramps up its inoculation drive. ECDC had predicted a sharp rise in coronavirus cases by August 1 with nearly five times as many new infections in Europe due to the highly transmissible Delta variant. "The current continuing deterioration of the epidemiological situation in many countries is expected to continue given the rapid increase in the Delta variant," the ECDC report said marking Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain among others which could witness increased deaths. The health body said 90 per cent of new COVID-19 cases by the end of August could be due to the Delta variant. "In the most affected countries, the steepest increases and highest notification rates were reported among 15 to 24-year-olds, with limited increases in persons aged over 65 years," the European health agency asserted. (With inputs from Agencies)

Greece sends police to popular tourist hotspots as COVID-19 erupts

New research has shown that relaxing restrictions like mask-wearing and social distancing when most people have been vaccinated greatly increases the risk of vaccine-resistant variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

At a time when nearly 60 percent of Europeans have received at least one vaccine dose, the authors said their modelling study showed the need to maintain non-vaccination measures until everyone is fully jabbed.&nbsp;

To predict how the SARS-CoV-2 virus might mutate in response to vaccination campaigns, a pan-European team of experts simulated the probability of a vaccine-resistant strain emerging in a population of 10 million people over three years.

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Variables included vaccination, mutation and transmission rates,&nbsp;including recurring "waves" of infections and declines in the number of cases in response to lockdowns.&nbsp;

Predictably, the model showed that a rapid rate of vaccination reduced the risk of a resistant strain emerging.&nbsp;

But in what the authors called a "counterintuitive result", the model showed that the highest risk of resistant strains emerging came when a large proportion of the population was vaccinated, but not large enough to ensure herd immunity.&nbsp;

This is in essence where much of Europe is currently, where the Delta variant is spreading rapidly.

The authors said the model showed a threshold of 60 percent of the population vaccinated, after which resistant variants were more likely to occur.&nbsp;

The situation in the US, where 60 percent of adults are fully vaccinated and 80 percent of new cases are caused by the Delta variant,&nbsp;is similar.

"Vaccines are our best bet to beat this pandemic" said co-author Simon Rella, from Austria's Institute of&nbsp;Science&nbsp;and Technology (IST).

"What our model showed is that when most people are vaccinated, the vaccine-resistant strain has an advantage over the original strain.&nbsp;

"This means that the vaccine-resistant strain spreads through the population faster than the original strain at a time when most people are vaccinated," Rella told journalists in an online briefing.

Viruses constantly mutate in response to environmental constraints, such as growing immunity and response measures designed to limit transmission.&nbsp;

With SARS-CoV-2, the Delta variant is significantly more infectious than the original virus variant, but there is currently little evidence to suggest it is more deadly.

'Evolution is powerful'

Authors said that their research highlighted the need to maintain other anti-Covid measures until everyone is vaccinated.&nbsp;

"Of course we hope that vaccine-resistance does not evolve over the course of this pandemic, but we urge caution," said Fyodor Kondrashov, an IST researcher and study co-author.&nbsp;

"Evolution is a very powerful force and maintaining some reasonable precautions throughout the whole vaccination period may actually be a good tool to control this evolution."

Currently, just over one billion people around the world are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with many countries,&nbsp;particularly in Africa and South America,&nbsp;yet to start widespread rollouts due to lack of supply. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Without global coordination, vaccine resistant strains may be eliminated in some populations but could persist in others," said the study, published in Nature Scientific Reports.&nbsp;

"Thus, a truly global vaccination effort may be necessary to reduce the chances of a global spread of a resistant strain."

Reacting to the study, Nick Davies, assistant professor of Mathematical Modelling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it showed the need for every country to "do their part to avoid creating fertile grounds for viral evolution".

"But ultimately, dealing with the emergence of a vaccine escape strain is really a global issue, not a national one," said Davies, who was not involved in the research.&nbsp;

"As soon as a vaccine escape mutant emerges somewhere, it becomes everybody's problem."

(With inputs from agencies)

New research has shown that relaxing restrictions like mask-wearing and social distancing when most people have been vaccinated greatly increases the risk of vaccine-resistant variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

New research has shown that relaxing restrictions like mask-wearing and social distancing when most people have been vaccinated greatly increases the risk of vaccine-resistant variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. At a time when nearly 60 percent of Europeans have received at least one vaccine dose, the authors said their modelling study showed the need to maintain non-vaccination measures until everyone is fully jabbed. To predict how the SARS-CoV-2 virus might mutate in response to vaccination campaigns, a pan-European team of experts simulated the probability of a vaccine-resistant strain emerging in a population of 10 million people over three years. Variables included vaccination, mutation and transmission rates, including recurring "waves" of infections and declines in the number of cases in response to lockdowns. Predictably, the model showed that a rapid rate of vaccination reduced the risk of a resistant strain emerging. But in what the authors called a "counterintuitive result", the model showed that the highest risk of resistant strains emerging came when a large proportion of the population was vaccinated, but not large enough to ensure herd immunity. This is in essence where much of Europe is currently, where the Delta variant is spreading rapidly. The authors said the model showed a threshold of 60 percent of the population vaccinated, after which resistant variants were more likely to occur. The situation in the US, where 60 percent of adults are fully vaccinated and 80 percent of new cases are caused by the Delta variant, is similar. "Vaccines are our best bet to beat this pandemic" said co-author Simon Rella, from Austria's Institute of Science and Technology (IST). "What our model showed is that when most people are vaccinated, the vaccine-resistant strain has an advantage over the original strain. "This means that the vaccine-resistant strain spreads through the population faster than the original strain at a time when most people are vaccinated," Rella told journalists in an online briefing. Viruses constantly mutate in response to environmental constraints, such as growing immunity and response measures designed to limit transmission. With SARS-CoV-2, the Delta variant is significantly more infectious than the original virus variant, but there is currently little evidence to suggest it is more deadly. 'Evolution is powerful' Authors said that their research highlighted the need to maintain other anti-Covid measures until everyone is vaccinated. "Of course we hope that vaccine-resistance does not evolve over the course of this pandemic, but we urge caution," said Fyodor Kondrashov, an IST researcher and study co-author. "Evolution is a very powerful force and maintaining some reasonable precautions throughout the whole vaccination period may actually be a good tool to control this evolution." Currently, just over one billion people around the world are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with many countries, particularly in Africa and South America, yet to start widespread rollouts due to lack of supply. "Without global coordination, vaccine resistant strains may be eliminated in some populations but could persist in others," said the study, published in Nature Scientific Reports. "Thus, a truly global vaccination effort may be necessary to reduce the chances of a global spread of a resistant strain." Reacting to the study, Nick Davies, assistant professor of Mathematical Modelling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it showed the need for every country to "do their part to avoid creating fertile grounds for viral evolution". "But ultimately, dealing with the emergence of a vaccine escape strain is really a global issue, not a national one," said Davies, who was not involved in the research. "As soon as a vaccine escape mutant emerges somewhere, it becomes everybody's problem." (With inputs from agencies)

Study says risk of vaccine-resistant variants highest when most inoculated

The&nbsp;European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has predicted&nbsp;a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1.&nbsp;

The expected rise in cases was linked to the highly-transmissible Delta variant, first identified in India, along with the relaxing of measures in European countries.&nbsp;

EU's disease agency said on Friday it expected to see 420 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the week ending on August 1, up from just under 90 last week.

By the week after, the number of new cases is expected to rise above 620 per 100,000 inhabitants, it said in a weekly report.

"The current continuing deterioration of the epidemiological situation in many countries is expected to continue given the rapid increase in the Delta variant," the ECDC said in the report.

Hospitalisations and deaths are also expected, although at a slower pace, according to the ECDC, thanks to the rollout of vaccination campaigns.

Currently, hospitalisations remain stable in most countries but the number of deaths associated with Covid-19 is expected to exceed 10 per 1,000,000 inhabitants again, compared with 6.8 last week, the agency noted.

The ECDC said it was forecasting&nbsp;increasing cases in 20 countries and increased deaths in nine: Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

"In the most affected countries, the steepest increases and highest notification rates were reported among 15 to 24-year-olds, with limited increases in persons aged over 65 years," the ECDC said in a statement.

While these figures are projection the level is in line with that seen during the peaks in the second half of 2020 and April 2021, according to the EU agency's data.

Between July 5 and 11, the number of new cases in the European Union jumped by over 60 per cent, increasing for the second week in a row, according to the ECDC, due to "relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions and increasing spread of Delta variant" first detected in India.

Last month, the Stockholm-based agency warned that the Delta variant was on track to account for 90 per cent of new cases by the end of August.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has predicted a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has predicted a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1. The expected rise in cases was linked to the highly-transmissible Delta variant, first identified in India, along with the relaxing of measures in European countries. EU's disease agency said on Friday it expected to see 420 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the week ending on August 1, up from just under 90 last week. By the week after, the number of new cases is expected to rise above 620 per 100,000 inhabitants, it said in a weekly report. "The current continuing deterioration of the epidemiological situation in many countries is expected to continue given the rapid increase in the Delta variant," the ECDC said in the report. Hospitalisations and deaths are also expected, although at a slower pace, according to the ECDC, thanks to the rollout of vaccination campaigns. Currently, hospitalisations remain stable in most countries but the number of deaths associated with Covid-19 is expected to exceed 10 per 1,000,000 inhabitants again, compared with 6.8 last week, the agency noted. The ECDC said it was forecasting increasing cases in 20 countries and increased deaths in nine: Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. "In the most affected countries, the steepest increases and highest notification rates were reported among 15 to 24-year-olds, with limited increases in persons aged over 65 years," the ECDC said in a statement. While these figures are projection the level is in line with that seen during the peaks in the second half of 2020 and April 2021, according to the EU agency's data. Between July 5 and 11, the number of new cases in the European Union jumped by over 60 per cent, increasing for the second week in a row, according to the ECDC, due to "relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions and increasing spread of Delta variant" first detected in India. Last month, the Stockholm-based agency warned that the Delta variant was on track to account for 90 per cent of new cases by the end of August. (With inputs from agencies)

Europe Covid infections to go up five times by August 1, says diseases body ECDC

Europe's drug regulator has said&nbsp;the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the&nbsp;European Union offered protection against all coronavirus variants, including Delta, but called for active monitoring by vaccine manufacturers to stay alert.

"It seems that the four vaccines that are approved in the&nbsp;European Union are protective against all strains that are circulating in&nbsp;Europe, including the Delta variant," said Marco Cavaleri,&nbsp;European Medicines Agency's (EMA) head of vaccine strategy, during a news briefing.

The upbeat assessment came as the World Health Organization warned that the coronavirus variant first detected&nbsp;in India could fuel a new wave of cases in Europe.

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The EMA's head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, said the Amsterdam-based watchdog was "aware of concerns caused by the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

"Right now it seems that the four vaccines approved in the European Union are protecting against all the strains circulating in Europe, including the Delta variant," he said.

"Emerging data from real world evidence are showing that two doses of vaccines are protective against the Delta variant."

Lab tests also showed that antibodies from the vaccines were able to neutralise Delta "so these are very reassuring news."

Four vaccines are currently approved for use in the EU: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Johnson.&nbsp;

But while the EU has been stepping up its vaccination programme, the WHO warned that cases are on the rise again after two months of decline.

The WHO said the reversal came as the Delta variant was overtaking the original Alpha variant that emerged in Britain "very quickly".

The EMA's Cavaleri said the regulator urged manufacturers to keep checking that their jabs were effective against all new variants of the disease including the so-called 'Delta Plus'.

"There are a number of variants that have been emerging over the last months, and we expect more to come over," Cavaleri said.

"Now there is the so-called Delta Plus variant, which is the Delta variant with an additional mutation in the spike protein, that is also important and we need to check that as well."

(With inputs from agencies)

Europe's drug regulator has said the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the European Union offered protection against all coronavirus variants, including Delta, but called for active monitoring by vaccine manufacturers to stay alert.

Europe's drug regulator has said the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the European Union offered protection against all coronavirus variants, including Delta, but called for active monitoring by vaccine manufacturers to stay alert. "It seems that the four vaccines that are approved in the European Union are protective against all strains that are circulating in Europe, including the Delta variant," said Marco Cavaleri, European Medicines Agency's (EMA) head of vaccine strategy, during a news briefing. The upbeat assessment came as the World Health Organization warned that the coronavirus variant first detected in India could fuel a new wave of cases in Europe. The EMA's head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, said the Amsterdam-based watchdog was "aware of concerns caused by the rapid spread of the Delta variant. "Right now it seems that the four vaccines approved in the European Union are protecting against all the strains circulating in Europe, including the Delta variant," he said. "Emerging data from real world evidence are showing that two doses of vaccines are protective against the Delta variant." Lab tests also showed that antibodies from the vaccines were able to neutralise Delta "so these are very reassuring news." Four vaccines are currently approved for use in the EU: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. But while the EU has been stepping up its vaccination programme, the WHO warned that cases are on the rise again after two months of decline. The WHO said the reversal came as the Delta variant was overtaking the original Alpha variant that emerged in Britain "very quickly". The EMA's Cavaleri said the regulator urged manufacturers to keep checking that their jabs were effective against all new variants of the disease including the so-called 'Delta Plus'. "There are a number of variants that have been emerging over the last months, and we expect more to come over," Cavaleri said. "Now there is the so-called Delta Plus variant, which is the Delta variant with an additional mutation in the spike protein, that is also important and we need to check that as well." (With inputs from agencies)

EU-approved vaccines effective against Delta variant in bloc, says EMA

Over 70 per cent of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> cases in the Lisbon area are from the more contagious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kappa-delta-who-releases-greek-nomenclature-for-covid-variants-including-ones-found-in-india-388657">Delta variant</a>, which is quickly spreading to other parts of the country, a report said late on Friday, as authorities scramble to stop a worrying rise in infections.

The national health institute, Ricardo Jorge, said in its report that the Delta variant, first identified in India, represented 51 per cent of cases in mainland Portugal, showing the variant is "spreading rapidly" as it happened in Britain.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-health-agency-warns-delta-variant-rise-portugal-fears-fourth-wave-393465">Europe health agency warns Delta variant rise; Portugal fears fourth wave</a>

New coronavirus cases rose by 1,604 on Friday, the biggest jump since February 19, when the country of just over 10 million people was still under lockdown. In total, Portugal has recorded 871,483 cases and 17,081 deaths since the pandemic began.

Although most new cases are still concentrated in the populous Lisbon region, the southern Algarve region, famous for its beaches and golf courses, has the highest COVID-19 reproduction "R" number of 1.34, the report said.

The jump in infections comes after tourism-dependent Portugal opened to visitors from the European Union and Britain in mid-May. Most businesses have reopened and, as the summer season kicks off, beaches are packed.

On Thursday, Portugal imposed stricter rules, including forcing restaurants to shut earlier over the weekend in Lisbon and in the Algarve tourism magnet Albufeira, a popular destination for British visitors.

Britain removed Portugal from its quarantine-free travel list earlier this month and Germany declared Portugal to be a "virus-variant zone" on Thursday, a measure that will trigger severe restrictions on travel to and from the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-removes-portugal-from-green-list-mandates-quarantine-389310">UK removes Portugal from 'green list', mandates quarantine</a>

The number of people in need of hospital care in Portugal, which faced its toughest battle against the virus in January, has also increased. There are 71 COVID-19 patients in intensive care in Lisbon, occupying 86 per cent of beds allocated to those infected by the virus.

To tackle the surge, Portugal is speeding up the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccination</a> of younger people at a time only around 30 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated so far.

Over 70 per cent of coronavirus cases in the Lisbon area are from the more contagious Delta variant, which is quickly spreading to other parts of the country, a report said late on Friday, as authorities scramble to stop a worrying rise in infections.

Over 70 per cent of coronavirus cases in the Lisbon area are from the more contagious Delta variant, which is quickly spreading to other parts of the country, a report said late on Friday, as authorities scramble to stop a worrying rise in infections. The national health institute, Ricardo Jorge, said in its report that the Delta variant, first identified in India, represented 51 per cent of cases in mainland Portugal, showing the variant is "spreading rapidly" as it happened in Britain. Also read | Europe health agency warns Delta variant rise; Portugal fears fourth wave New coronavirus cases rose by 1,604 on Friday, the biggest jump since February 19, when the country of just over 10 million people was still under lockdown. In total, Portugal has recorded 871,483 cases and 17,081 deaths since the pandemic began. Although most new cases are still concentrated in the populous Lisbon region, the southern Algarve region, famous for its beaches and golf courses, has the highest COVID-19 reproduction "R" number of 1.34, the report said. The jump in infections comes after tourism-dependent Portugal opened to visitors from the European Union and Britain in mid-May. Most businesses have reopened and, as the summer season kicks off, beaches are packed. On Thursday, Portugal imposed stricter rules, including forcing restaurants to shut earlier over the weekend in Lisbon and in the Algarve tourism magnet Albufeira, a popular destination for British visitors. Britain removed Portugal from its quarantine-free travel list earlier this month and Germany declared Portugal to be a "virus-variant zone" on Thursday, a measure that will trigger severe restrictions on travel to and from the country. Also read | UK removes Portugal from 'green list', mandates quarantine The number of people in need of hospital care in Portugal, which faced its toughest battle against the virus in January, has also increased. There are 71 COVID-19 patients in intensive care in Lisbon, occupying 86 per cent of beds allocated to those infected by the virus. To tackle the surge, Portugal is speeding up the vaccination of younger people at a time only around 30 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated so far.

Delta variant 'spreading rapidly' from Lisbon to rest of Portugal

New Zealand announced a three-day suspension of its quarantine-free travel arrangement with Australia on Saturday, with Wellington citing "multiple" outbreaks of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> in the neighbouring country.

The announcement comes as a two-week lockdown begins in Sydney to contain a rapidly spreading outbreak of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kappa-delta-who-releases-greek-nomenclature-for-covid-variants-including-ones-found-in-india-388657">Delta coronavirus variant</a>.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydney-flags-broader-lockdown-as-delta-variant-cases-swell-394050">Sydney flags broader lockdown as Delta variant cases swell</a>

More than 80 cases have been reported so far in Australia's largest city, while a handful of community cases have also been recorded in the Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland in recent days.

"But given the high level of transmissibility of what appears to be the Delta variant, and the fact that there are now multiple community clusters (in Australia), it is the right thing to do to keep COVID-19 out of New Zealand," said New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.

Hipkins said he understood the inconvenience the pause would cause and added that New Zealand remained committed to quarantine-free travel with Australia.&nbsp;

He added that the suspension would give officials time to consider measures "to make the bubble safer, such as pre-departure testing for all flights" between the two countries.

New Zealand has previously paused the bubble arrangement five times with individual states but this is the first time it has put a blanket halt to quarantine-free travel from all of Australia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-australia-travel-bubble-faces-disruption-due-to-fresh-covid-cases-382361">New Zealand-Australia travel bubble faces disruption due to fresh Covid cases</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/australia-and-new-zealand">Both countries</a> have been among the world's most successful in containing COVID-19. New Zealand has recorded just 26 COVID-19 deaths in a population of five million, and Australia has had fewer than 1,000 deaths in a population of 25 million.&nbsp;

The trans-Tasman travel bubble opened in mid-April, more than a year after both countries closed their international borders due to the pandemic. It has been hailed as a major milestone in restarting the global travel industry.

New Zealand announced a three-day suspension of its quarantine-free travel arrangement with Australia on Saturday, with Wellington citing "multiple" outbreaks of COVID-19 in the neighbouring country.

New Zealand announced a three-day suspension of its quarantine-free travel arrangement with Australia on Saturday, with Wellington citing "multiple" outbreaks of COVID-19 in the neighbouring country. The announcement comes as a two-week lockdown begins in Sydney to contain a rapidly spreading outbreak of the Delta coronavirus variant. Also read | Sydney flags broader lockdown as Delta variant cases swell More than 80 cases have been reported so far in Australia's largest city, while a handful of community cases have also been recorded in the Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland in recent days. "But given the high level of transmissibility of what appears to be the Delta variant, and the fact that there are now multiple community clusters (in Australia), it is the right thing to do to keep COVID-19 out of New Zealand," said New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. Hipkins said he understood the inconvenience the pause would cause and added that New Zealand remained committed to quarantine-free travel with Australia. He added that the suspension would give officials time to consider measures "to make the bubble safer, such as pre-departure testing for all flights" between the two countries. New Zealand has previously paused the bubble arrangement five times with individual states but this is the first time it has put a blanket halt to quarantine-free travel from all of Australia. Also read | New Zealand-Australia travel bubble faces disruption due to fresh Covid cases Both countries have been among the world's most successful in containing COVID-19. New Zealand has recorded just 26 COVID-19 deaths in a population of five million, and Australia has had fewer than 1,000 deaths in a population of 25 million. The trans-Tasman travel bubble opened in mid-April, more than a year after both countries closed their international borders due to the pandemic. It has been hailed as a major milestone in restarting the global travel industry.

New Zealand suspends travel bubble with Australia

As Israel deals with a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant, health officials have suggested that up to half of new cases could be among the vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with the Delta variant will be quarantined, according to Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel's health ministry. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-eases-coronavirus-restrictions-amid-nationwide-vaccination-388778">Also read | Israel eases coronavirus restrictions amid nationwide vaccination</a> 
 
"Even though the numbers are low, the fact that this is reaching vaccinated people means ... that we are still checking how many vaccinated people have also been infected," Levy said, according to Haaretz.

On June 23, Israel gave health officials the authority to quarantine anyone who has been exposed to an extremely infectious variant of Covid-19, even if they have been vaccinated or have recovered from the sickness with supposed immunity.&nbsp;

The decision came after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a warning on Tuesday about fresh Delta-related outbreaks, with daily infections rising following weeks of low levels because to Israel's unprecedented mass vaccination campaign.

If authorities feel they may have been in "close contact with a carrier of a severe virus strain," authorities can force vaccinated or previously infected people to self-isolate for up to 14 days under the amended health ministry regulations.&nbsp;

The number of new cases recorded every day in Israel has risen to above 100, the highest level since May.

According to Levy, the Delta variety is responsible for almost 70% of the cases.

As daily cases remained in the single digits, Israel began to relax its viral restrictions, terminating indoor masking last week.

As Israel deals with a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant, health officials have suggested that up to half of new cases could be among the vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with the Delta variant will be quarantined, according to Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel's health ministry.

As Israel deals with a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant, health officials have suggested that up to half of new cases could be among the vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with the Delta variant will be quarantined, according to Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel's health ministry. Also read | Israel eases coronavirus restrictions amid nationwide vaccination "Even though the numbers are low, the fact that this is reaching vaccinated people means ... that we are still checking how many vaccinated people have also been infected," Levy said, according to Haaretz. On June 23, Israel gave health officials the authority to quarantine anyone who has been exposed to an extremely infectious variant of Covid-19, even if they have been vaccinated or have recovered from the sickness with supposed immunity. The decision came after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a warning on Tuesday about fresh Delta-related outbreaks, with daily infections rising following weeks of low levels because to Israel's unprecedented mass vaccination campaign. If authorities feel they may have been in "close contact with a carrier of a severe virus strain," authorities can force vaccinated or previously infected people to self-isolate for up to 14 days under the amended health ministry regulations. The number of new cases recorded every day in Israel has risen to above 100, the highest level since May. According to Levy, the Delta variety is responsible for almost 70% of the cases. As daily cases remained in the single digits, Israel began to relax its viral restrictions, terminating indoor masking last week.

COVID-19: Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people, says Israel

Amid reopening among several countries in Europe, Chancellor Angela <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-chancellor-merkel-takes-moderna-vaccine-as-second-jab-after-astrazeneca-393194">Merkel </a>told Parliament that EU states should quarantine UK arrivals as it is being done in Germany.

“In our country, if you come from Great Britain, you have to go into quarantine - and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see,” the German Chancellor told Parliament on Wednesday.

Watch:

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As concern grows about the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450">Delta variant</a> in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it is "likely that the Delta variant will circulate extensively during the summer".

The ECDC warned that younger individuals were particularly at risk since they were slow to get <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-vaccine-effective-against-covid-19-variants-identified-in-india-393331">vaccinated</a>.

"The Delta variant is more transmissible than other circulating variants and we estimate that by the end of August it will represent 90 per cent" of new cases in the EU," the health agency said.

The agency said vaccination should be carried out at a "very high pace" in order to combat the spread of the Delta variant which experts say is 40 to 60 per cent more contagious than the Alpha variant (Β.1.1.7).

Andrea Ammon the director at ECDC called for speeding up of the second dose especially for vulnerable groups while revealing that those over 80 and over 60 still haven't been fully vaccinated in Europe.

The ECDC further said that any relaxation over the summer may lead to increased "hospitalisations and deaths" and may reach the same level as autumn last year if stringent measures are not applied by authorities.

Meanwhile, Ukraine reported the first two cases of the Delta variant(B.1.617.2), officials confirmed even as Portugal feared a fourth wave of virus attack due to the B.1.617.2 variant.

Lisbon has been hit hard with the Delta variant with 60 per cent cases reported. The capital city has banned travel with more restrictions on the anvil.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid reopening among several countries in Europe, Chancellor Angela Merkel told Parliament that EU states should quarantine UK arrivals as it is being done in Germany.

Amid reopening among several countries in Europe, Chancellor Angela Merkel told Parliament that EU states should quarantine UK arrivals as it is being done in Germany. “In our country, if you come from Great Britain, you have to go into quarantine - and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see,” the German Chancellor told Parliament on Wednesday. Watch: As concern grows about the Delta variant in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it is "likely that the Delta variant will circulate extensively during the summer". The ECDC warned that younger individuals were particularly at risk since they were slow to get vaccinated. "The Delta variant is more transmissible than other circulating variants and we estimate that by the end of August it will represent 90 per cent" of new cases in the EU," the health agency said. The agency said vaccination should be carried out at a "very high pace" in order to combat the spread of the Delta variant which experts say is 40 to 60 per cent more contagious than the Alpha variant (Β.1.1.7). Andrea Ammon the director at ECDC called for speeding up of the second dose especially for vulnerable groups while revealing that those over 80 and over 60 still haven't been fully vaccinated in Europe. The ECDC further said that any relaxation over the summer may lead to increased "hospitalisations and deaths" and may reach the same level as autumn last year if stringent measures are not applied by authorities. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported the first two cases of the Delta variant(B.1.617.2), officials confirmed even as Portugal feared a fourth wave of virus attack due to the B.1.617.2 variant. Lisbon has been hit hard with the Delta variant with 60 per cent cases reported. The capital city has banned travel with more restrictions on the anvil. (With inputs from Agencies)

Europe health agency warns Delta variant rise; Portugal fears fourth wave