A major influx of vaccination doses is expected to come through for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covax-delivers-over-20-million-doses-to-20-nations-368420">Covax</a> over the coming months, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 250 million doses of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a> will be donated within six to eight weeks, it said.

With more than 152 million doses distributed thus far to 137 participating territories, the scheme aims to provide vaccines to poorer countries, and the inflow of doses will be a major boost.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-distribute-80-million-vaccine-doses-through-covax-india-included-in-list-white-house-389263">US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House</a>

In a weekly operational update issued Wednesday, the WHO said that at a recent UN Crisis Management Team meeting that there will be increased vaccine donations to the Covax facility, projecting an additional 250 million vaccines over the next six to eight weeks".

Covax is a vaccine distribution programme co-led by the World Health Organization, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, with UNICEF handling the vaccine delivery flights through its vaccine logistics expertise.

92 of the world's poorest countries can get vaccinations free of charge through Covax, the cost of which is supported by donors.

Plants in India that produced AstraZeneca doses were to be Covax's early backbone, but India restricted exports because of its own devastating Coronavirus outbreak.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/give-at-least-50-of-vaccine-doses-to-covax-programme-who-390032">Give at least 50% of vaccine doses to Covax programme: WHO</a>

Consequently, Covax is increasingly dependent on donations from wealthy countries, that have purchased more batches than they need.

Gavi chief executive Seth Berkley emphasized the importance of higher vaccine coverage everywhere in order to protect the most vulnerable against the emergence of new disease variants. He stated that global vaccine demand and supply are far imbalanced, leaving millions unprotected.

Inequity surrounding vaccines

Several countries have begun vaccinating children and giving additional booster vaccinations to it's citizens, while others have so far not been able to vaccinate their health care workers and elderly, who are most at risk of acquiring serious diseases.

It is a matter of grave concern to the WHO that rich and poor nations have starkly different access to COVID-19 vaccines.

To provide full protection, most Covid vaccines require two shots.&nbsp; Among high-income countries, as classified by the World Bank, 96.7 doses have been administered per 100 residents.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/united-states-donates-153-million-johnson-johnson-vaccines-to-nepal-397680">United States donates 1.53 million Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines to Nepal</a>

In the 29 lowest-income countries, the average dose per 100 people is only 1.6.

On Wednesday, Tanzania was expected to begin rolling out vaccinations, leaving only Burundi, Eritrea and North Korea without COVID-19 immunization campaigns.

Covax delivered over a million single-shot vaccines donated by the United States to Tanzania on Saturday.

A total of 610 million doses are expected to be donated to Covax between 2021 and 2022.

The United States accounts for 260 million of those, while the European Union accounts for 200 million, Britain accounts for 80 million, and Canada and Japan account for about 30 million each.

(With inputs from agencies)

A major influx of vaccination doses is expected to come through for Covax over the coming months, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 250 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be donated within six to eight weeks, it said.

A major influx of vaccination doses is expected to come through for Covax over the coming months, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 250 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be donated within six to eight weeks, it said. With more than 152 million doses distributed thus far to 137 participating territories, the scheme aims to provide vaccines to poorer countries, and the inflow of doses will be a major boost. Also read | US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House In a weekly operational update issued Wednesday, the WHO said that at a recent UN Crisis Management Team meeting that there will be increased vaccine donations to the Covax facility, projecting an additional 250 million vaccines over the next six to eight weeks". Covax is a vaccine distribution programme co-led by the World Health Organization, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, with UNICEF handling the vaccine delivery flights through its vaccine logistics expertise. 92 of the world's poorest countries can get vaccinations free of charge through Covax, the cost of which is supported by donors. Plants in India that produced AstraZeneca doses were to be Covax's early backbone, but India restricted exports because of its own devastating Coronavirus outbreak. Also read | Give at least 50% of vaccine doses to Covax programme: WHO Consequently, Covax is increasingly dependent on donations from wealthy countries, that have purchased more batches than they need. Gavi chief executive Seth Berkley emphasized the importance of higher vaccine coverage everywhere in order to protect the most vulnerable against the emergence of new disease variants. He stated that global vaccine demand and supply are far imbalanced, leaving millions unprotected. Inequity surrounding vaccines Several countries have begun vaccinating children and giving additional booster vaccinations to it's citizens, while others have so far not been able to vaccinate their health care workers and elderly, who are most at risk of acquiring serious diseases. It is a matter of grave concern to the WHO that rich and poor nations have starkly different access to COVID-19 vaccines. To provide full protection, most Covid vaccines require two shots. Among high-income countries, as classified by the World Bank, 96.7 doses have been administered per 100 residents. Also read | United States donates 1.53 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Nepal In the 29 lowest-income countries, the average dose per 100 people is only 1.6. On Wednesday, Tanzania was expected to begin rolling out vaccinations, leaving only Burundi, Eritrea and North Korea without COVID-19 immunization campaigns. Covax delivered over a million single-shot vaccines donated by the United States to Tanzania on Saturday. A total of 610 million doses are expected to be donated to Covax between 2021 and 2022. The United States accounts for 260 million of those, while the European Union accounts for 200 million, Britain accounts for 80 million, and Canada and Japan account for about 30 million each. (With inputs from agencies)

Covax expects 250 million donated doses in six to eight weeks: WHO

Pakistan will ban air travel for anyone without a COVID-19 vaccine certificate from August&nbsp;1 and will require all public sector workers to get vaccinated by August&nbsp;31, the government announced on Thursday along with a host of other restrictions.

From August&nbsp;31, unvaccinated staff will no longer be allowed to enter government offices, schools, restaurants or shopping malls, said Asad Umar, who heads National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), a military-run body that oversees the pandemic response, at a joint news conference with the health minister in Islamabad.

Teachers and students above 18, public transport and retail staff will also be required to get vaccinated, they said.

Pakistan has seen coronavirus infections soar, dominated by Delta variant, and its poor health infrastructure is under extreme pressure.

The national positive test rate for COVID stands at 7.53 per cent, according to the NCOC. The rate in the southern port city of Karachi touched 23 per cent&nbsp;in recent weeks.&nbsp;

"If you're not vaccinated you can't go to teach at schools and colleges from August 1," Umar said.

"We can't put our children's lives at risk just because that you're not ready to get the vaccine."

The NCOC has said the Delta, Beta, and Alpha variants of the

virus have all been detected in Pakistan since May.

After a sluggish start, the government ramped up its national vaccination drive, especially in the heartland Punjab province, with 850,000 doses administered on Wednesday across the country.

Umar said the target is to touch one million doses a day.

According to the NCOC, over 27.8 million have now received at least one vaccine shot, while only 5.9 million have been fully vaccinated out of a population of 220 million.

It said Pakistan registered 4,497 new cases and 76 deaths in the last 24 hours, with over 3,000 people in critical condition. So far 23,209 people have died of COVID-19 in Pakistan

Pakistan will ban air travel for anyone without a COVID-19 vaccine certificate from August 1 and will require all public sector workers to get vaccinated by August 31, the government announced on Thursday along with a host of other restrictions.

Pakistan will ban air travel for anyone without a COVID-19 vaccine certificate from August 1 and will require all public sector workers to get vaccinated by August 31, the government announced on Thursday along with a host of other restrictions. From August 31, unvaccinated staff will no longer be allowed to enter government offices, schools, restaurants or shopping malls, said Asad Umar, who heads National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), a military-run body that oversees the pandemic response, at a joint news conference with the health minister in Islamabad. Teachers and students above 18, public transport and retail staff will also be required to get vaccinated, they said. Pakistan has seen coronavirus infections soar, dominated by Delta variant, and its poor health infrastructure is under extreme pressure. The national positive test rate for COVID stands at 7.53 per cent, according to the NCOC. The rate in the southern port city of Karachi touched 23 per cent in recent weeks. "If you're not vaccinated you can't go to teach at schools and colleges from August 1," Umar said. "We can't put our children's lives at risk just because that you're not ready to get the vaccine." The NCOC has said the Delta, Beta, and Alpha variants of the virus have all been detected in Pakistan since May. After a sluggish start, the government ramped up its national vaccination drive, especially in the heartland Punjab province, with 850,000 doses administered on Wednesday across the country. Umar said the target is to touch one million doses a day. According to the NCOC, over 27.8 million have now received at least one vaccine shot, while only 5.9 million have been fully vaccinated out of a population of 220 million. It said Pakistan registered 4,497 new cases and 76 deaths in the last 24 hours, with over 3,000 people in critical condition. So far 23,209 people have died of COVID-19 in Pakistan

Pakistan to bar unvaccinated public sector staff, teachers

Ireland will start offering <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccinations</a> to children aged 12 and up, the government said Tuesday, warning the Delta variant still poses "a significant risk" in the country despite a high-tempo jabs rollout.

In a statement following a cabinet meeting, the government said it "accepted advice" from Dublin's jabs taskforce that "recommends the extension of the vaccination programme to children aged 12-15".

"This will be reviewed from a planning, operational and clinical perspective in the coming days," the statement said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-and-pfizer-mixed-shots-boost-antibody-levels-study-400778" hreflang="en">AstraZeneca and Pfizer mixed shots boost antibody levels: Study</a>

Health minister Stephen Donnelly said children would be offered mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna which have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

"We are continuing to see an increase in cases of COVID-19 among our young people," he said in a statement.

"Vaccination, along with continued adherence to the public health advice, remains the best protection we can offer."

Separately on Tuesday, Irish teenagers aged 16 and 17 were permitted to register to secure appointments for mRNA Covid vaccinations.

Those aged 18 plus have been eligible for vaccination since early July.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delta-variant-is-the-symptom-of-a-bigger-threat-vaccine-refusal-400609" hreflang="en">The delta variant is the symptom of a bigger threat: Vaccine refusal</a>

Ireland's vaccine rollout was initially sluggish and tethered to an EU programme that was hobbled by procurement issues.

But it has dramatically picked up pace in recent months.

Dublin said to date over 5.5 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the Republic, which is home to five million people.

Some 69% of Ireland's population are now fully vaccinated while 83% &nbsp;have been partially inoculated, according to the government.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 5,026 COVID-19 deaths in Ireland.

Although the death toll has remained low, case figures have risen in recent weeks as Ireland dropped pandemic curbs.

The daily infection toll now regularly surpasses 1,000 and the Health Services Executive (HSE) has also warned that hospital admissions are on the rise.

The government warned "the incidence of the Delta variant in Ireland poses a significant risk, particularly to those who are not yet fully vaccinated".

Ireland will start offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children aged 12 and up, the government said Tuesday, warning the Delta variant still poses "a significant risk" in the country despite a high-tempo jabs rollout.

Ireland will start offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children aged 12 and up, the government said Tuesday, warning the Delta variant still poses "a significant risk" in the country despite a high-tempo jabs rollout. In a statement following a cabinet meeting, the government said it "accepted advice" from Dublin's jabs taskforce that "recommends the extension of the vaccination programme to children aged 12-15". "This will be reviewed from a planning, operational and clinical perspective in the coming days," the statement said. Also read | AstraZeneca and Pfizer mixed shots boost antibody levels: Study Health minister Stephen Donnelly said children would be offered mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna which have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). "We are continuing to see an increase in cases of COVID-19 among our young people," he said in a statement. "Vaccination, along with continued adherence to the public health advice, remains the best protection we can offer." Separately on Tuesday, Irish teenagers aged 16 and 17 were permitted to register to secure appointments for mRNA Covid vaccinations. Those aged 18 plus have been eligible for vaccination since early July. Also read | The delta variant is the symptom of a bigger threat: Vaccine refusal Ireland's vaccine rollout was initially sluggish and tethered to an EU programme that was hobbled by procurement issues. But it has dramatically picked up pace in recent months. Dublin said to date over 5.5 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the Republic, which is home to five million people. Some 69% of Ireland's population are now fully vaccinated while 83% have been partially inoculated, according to the government. Since the pandemic began, there have been 5,026 COVID-19 deaths in Ireland. Although the death toll has remained low, case figures have risen in recent weeks as Ireland dropped pandemic curbs. The daily infection toll now regularly surpasses 1,000 and the Health Services Executive (HSE) has also warned that hospital admissions are on the rise. The government warned "the incidence of the Delta variant in Ireland poses a significant risk, particularly to those who are not yet fully vaccinated".

Ireland to vaccinate teens as Delta concerns linger

Due to worries about the rising infection rate caused by the delta variant, the United States issued a notification on Monday that it will keep existing COVID-19 limitations on international travel in place for the time being.

It was the latest indication that the White House is having to rethink its approach to the coronavirus pandemic as the more contagious version spreads across the country.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | World Business Watch: American and Southwest airlines lifted by travel rebound

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-american-and-southwest-airlines-lifted-by-travel-rebound-399969/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the restrictions would continue for now.

"Driven by the delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated, and appears likely to continue in the weeks ahead," she said.

The rising cases also are causing the administration to take a closer look at policies on wearing masks.

The Department of Veterans Affairs became the first major federal agency to require COVID-19 vaccines for its healthcare workers on Monday.

Over the weekend, US health officials said they're considering modifying the federal government's mask-wearing requirements.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Due to worries about the rising infection rate caused by the delta variant, the United States issued a notification on Monday that it will keep existing COVID-19 limitations on international travel in place for the time being.

Due to worries about the rising infection rate caused by the delta variant, the United States issued a notification on Monday that it will keep existing COVID-19 limitations on international travel in place for the time being. It was the latest indication that the White House is having to rethink its approach to the coronavirus pandemic as the more contagious version spreads across the country. Watch | World Business Watch: American and Southwest airlines lifted by travel rebound White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the restrictions would continue for now. "Driven by the delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated, and appears likely to continue in the weeks ahead," she said. The rising cases also are causing the administration to take a closer look at policies on wearing masks. The Department of Veterans Affairs became the first major federal agency to require COVID-19 vaccines for its healthcare workers on Monday. Over the weekend, US health officials said they're considering modifying the federal government's mask-wearing requirements. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: US to keep travel restrictions in place due to concerns about Delta variant

National carrier Etihad Airways on Monday informed that flights from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will remain suspended till August 2.

The date could be extended, depending on directions by the UAE authorities, Khaleej Times reported citing Etihad Airways Guest Relations.

"We've just received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August, and we are not entirely sure if this will be extended as it depends on the authorities," Etihad Airways Guest Relations said in a tweet. 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We've just received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August, and we are not entirely sure if this will be extended as it depends on the authorities. You may not see availability on the website because of the schedule uncertainty. *Sky
— Etihad Help (@EtihadHelp) <a href="https://twitter.com/EtihadHelp/status/1419546271162019846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Last month, the Canadian government also announced that it is extending the ban on incoming passenger flights from India for another month due to the Delta variant of COVID-19.

National carrier Etihad Airways on Monday informed that flights from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will remain suspended till August 2. The date could be extended, depending on directions by the UAE authorities, Khaleej Times reported citing Etihad Airways Guest Relations.

National carrier Etihad Airways on Monday informed that flights from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will remain suspended till August 2. The date could be extended, depending on directions by the UAE authorities, Khaleej Times reported citing Etihad Airways Guest Relations. "We've just received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August, and we are not entirely sure if this will be extended as it depends on the authorities," Etihad Airways Guest Relations said in a tweet. We've just received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August, and we are not entirely sure if this will be extended as it depends on the authorities. You may not see availability on the website because of the schedule uncertainty. *Sky — Etihad Help (@EtihadHelp) July 26, 2021 × Last month, the Canadian government also announced that it is extending the ban on incoming passenger flights from India for another month due to the Delta variant of COVID-19.

COVID-19: UAE extends ban on passenger flights from India till August 2

After an all-too-brief respite, the United States is again at a crossroads in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">pandemic</a>. The number of infections has ticked up — slowly at first, then swiftly — to 51,000 cases per day, on average, more than four times the rate a month ago. The country may again see overflowing hospitals, exhausted health care workers and thousands of needless deaths.

The more contagious delta variant may be getting the blame, but fueling its rise is an older, more familiar foe: vaccine hesitancy and refusal, long pervasive in the United States. Were a wider swath of the population vaccinated, there would be no resurgence — of the delta variant, alpha variant or any other version of the coronavirus.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi7k8fn6P7xAhWZyzgGHblAAAcQFjAAegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2u4Be0cBJTjAa0GR6qZ2Bd" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450" target="_blank">COVID-19: All you need to know about&nbsp;Delta Plus&nbsp;variant</a>

While mild breakthrough infections may be more common than once thought, the vaccines effectively prevent severe illness and death. Yet nearly half the population remains unvaccinated and unprotected. About 30 per cent of adults have not received even a single dose, and the percentage is much higher in some parts of the country.

America is one of the few countries with enough vaccines at its disposal to protect every resident — and yet it has the highest rates of vaccine hesitance or refusal of any nation except Russia.

Public health experts have fruitlessly warned for months that the virus — any version of it — would resurge if the country did not vaccinate enough of the population quickly enough. Bill Hanage, a public health researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, predicted in January that Florida might have a rough summer. Now 1 in 5 new infections nationwide is in Florida.

True, the speed and ferocity with which the delta variant is tearing through Asia, Europe, Africa and now North America has taken many experts by surprise. It now accounts for about 83 per cent&nbsp;of the infections in the United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-lawmakers-seek-deal-on-vaccine-passports-after-protests-400590" hreflang="en">French lawmakers seek deal on vaccine passports after protests</a>

But delta is by no means the wickedest variant out there. Gamma and lambda are waiting in the wings, and who knows what frightful versions are already flourishing undetected in the far corners of the world, perhaps even here in America.

Every infected person, anywhere in the world, offers the coronavirus another opportunity to morph into a new variant. The more infections there are globally, the more likely new variants will arise.

The United States will be vulnerable to every one of them until it can immunize millions of people who now refuse to get the vaccine, are still persuadable but hesitant or have not yet gained access. The unvaccinated will set the country on fire over and over again.

And they will not be the only ones who are singed. Vaccinated people will be protected from severe illness and death, but there may be other consequences. Already in some communities, they are being asked to wear masks indoors. If the numbers continue to soar, the restrictions that divided the country before may return. Workplaces may need to close again, and schools, too.

And some number of vaccinated people will become infected. Breakthrough infections were expected to be vanishingly rare with the original virus, but recent data suggest they may be less so with the delta variant. It is roughly twice as contagious as the original coronavirus, and some early evidence hints that people infected with the variant carry the virus in much higher amounts.

“The larger the force of infection that comes from the pandemic in unvaccinated populations, the more breakthrough infections there will be,” Hanage said.

Most breakthrough infections produce few to no symptoms, but some may prompt illness in vaccinated people serious enough to lay them up in bed, miss work — and put their children or older relatives at risk. Some cases may lead to long COVID, scientists now fear — a poorly defined syndrome in which symptoms seem to persist for months.

This grim redux has a glaringly obvious solution: shots in arms. But short of a federal mandate — or a patchwork of mandates by municipalities, hospitals, colleges and businesses — it is hard to see how enough Americans will be immunized to form a buttress against the virus.

After a brisk vaccination campaign in the spring, the pace has slowed to about 537,000 doses per day, according to data gathered by The New York Times. Some responsibility for the lag lies with the frank refusal of conservative leaders — often Republicans — to champion the vaccines.

But misinformation, an epidemic all its own on social media, emanates from all parts of the cultural spectrum, and there is no single reason why so many Americans remain unvaccinated. It is a Hydra-headed problem.

Of the 39% of adults who are unvaccinated, about half say they are completely unwilling. But even within that group, some say they would comply if required to do so.

Some are hesitant and may come around with the right persuasion from people they trust, while still others plan to be inoculated but say they have just not had the chance.

Politics is a driver for only some of these people, noted Dr. Richard Besser, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New Jersey, where he lives, the rates vary drastically because of socioeconomic factors. In mostly white Princeton, 75% of adults are immunized, versus 45% in Trenton, just 14 miles away, which is heavily Black and Latino.

“Both are strong Democratic areas, so it’s really important to break things down and to address the issues that are impeding vaccination progress in each segment of the unvaccinated population,” Besser said.

Still, there is no doubt that the political divide is playing a role in rising infection rates. From the start, vaccinations in counties that voted for Donald Trump lagged behind those in counties that voted for Joe Biden, and the gap has only widened — from 2 percentage points in April to nearly 12 points now, according to one recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

After an all-too-brief respite, the United States is again at a crossroads in the pandemic. The number of infections has ticked up — slowly at first, then swiftly — to 51,000 cases per day, on average, more than four times the rate a month ago.

After an all-too-brief respite, the United States is again at a crossroads in the pandemic. The number of infections has ticked up — slowly at first, then swiftly — to 51,000 cases per day, on average, more than four times the rate a month ago. The country may again see overflowing hospitals, exhausted health care workers and thousands of needless deaths. The more contagious delta variant may be getting the blame, but fueling its rise is an older, more familiar foe: vaccine hesitancy and refusal, long pervasive in the United States. Were a wider swath of the population vaccinated, there would be no resurgence — of the delta variant, alpha variant or any other version of the coronavirus. Also read | COVID-19: All you need to know about Delta Plus variant While mild breakthrough infections may be more common than once thought, the vaccines effectively prevent severe illness and death. Yet nearly half the population remains unvaccinated and unprotected. About 30 per cent of adults have not received even a single dose, and the percentage is much higher in some parts of the country. America is one of the few countries with enough vaccines at its disposal to protect every resident — and yet it has the highest rates of vaccine hesitance or refusal of any nation except Russia. Public health experts have fruitlessly warned for months that the virus — any version of it — would resurge if the country did not vaccinate enough of the population quickly enough. Bill Hanage, a public health researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, predicted in January that Florida might have a rough summer. Now 1 in 5 new infections nationwide is in Florida. True, the speed and ferocity with which the delta variant is tearing through Asia, Europe, Africa and now North America has taken many experts by surprise. It now accounts for about 83 per cent of the infections in the United States. Also read | French lawmakers seek deal on vaccine passports after protests But delta is by no means the wickedest variant out there. Gamma and lambda are waiting in the wings, and who knows what frightful versions are already flourishing undetected in the far corners of the world, perhaps even here in America. Every infected person, anywhere in the world, offers the coronavirus another opportunity to morph into a new variant. The more infections there are globally, the more likely new variants will arise. The United States will be vulnerable to every one of them until it can immunize millions of people who now refuse to get the vaccine, are still persuadable but hesitant or have not yet gained access. The unvaccinated will set the country on fire over and over again. And they will not be the only ones who are singed. Vaccinated people will be protected from severe illness and death, but there may be other consequences. Already in some communities, they are being asked to wear masks indoors. If the numbers continue to soar, the restrictions that divided the country before may return. Workplaces may need to close again, and schools, too. And some number of vaccinated people will become infected. Breakthrough infections were expected to be vanishingly rare with the original virus, but recent data suggest they may be less so with the delta variant. It is roughly twice as contagious as the original coronavirus, and some early evidence hints that people infected with the variant carry the virus in much higher amounts. “The larger the force of infection that comes from the pandemic in unvaccinated populations, the more breakthrough infections there will be,” Hanage said. Most breakthrough infections produce few to no symptoms, but some may prompt illness in vaccinated people serious enough to lay them up in bed, miss work — and put their children or older relatives at risk. Some cases may lead to long COVID, scientists now fear — a poorly defined syndrome in which symptoms seem to persist for months. This grim redux has a glaringly obvious solution: shots in arms. But short of a federal mandate — or a patchwork of mandates by municipalities, hospitals, colleges and businesses — it is hard to see how enough Americans will be immunized to form a buttress against the virus. After a brisk vaccination campaign in the spring, the pace has slowed to about 537,000 doses per day, according to data gathered by The New York Times. Some responsibility for the lag lies with the frank refusal of conservative leaders — often Republicans — to champion the vaccines. But misinformation, an epidemic all its own on social media, emanates from all parts of the cultural spectrum, and there is no single reason why so many Americans remain unvaccinated. It is a Hydra-headed problem. Of the 39% of adults who are unvaccinated, about half say they are completely unwilling. But even within that group, some say they would comply if required to do so. Some are hesitant and may come around with the right persuasion from people they trust, while still others plan to be inoculated but say they have just not had the chance. Politics is a driver for only some of these people, noted Dr. Richard Besser, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New Jersey, where he lives, the rates vary drastically because of socioeconomic factors. In mostly white Princeton, 75% of adults are immunized, versus 45% in Trenton, just 14 miles away, which is heavily Black and Latino. “Both are strong Democratic areas, so it’s really important to break things down and to address the issues that are impeding vaccination progress in each segment of the unvaccinated population,” Besser said. Still, there is no doubt that the political divide is playing a role in rising infection rates. From the start, vaccinations in counties that voted for Donald Trump lagged behind those in counties that voted for Joe Biden, and the gap has only widened — from 2 percentage points in April to nearly 12 points now, according to one recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The delta variant is the symptom of a bigger threat: Vaccine refusal

Hollywood actor Sean Penn has reportedly refused to return on set for shooting his upcoming Watergate series, ‘Gaslit’.&nbsp;

 
According to a confirmed report by an entertainment portal, Penn has demanded that the entire cast and crew get vaccinated before returning to work.&nbsp;

 
The Oscar-winning actor’s decision comes after a huge spike in Coronavirus cases as the highly contagious delta variant spreads throughout California and U.S. In Los Angeles County, COVID-19 cases are reaching levels not witnessed since the winter spike and local officials have reportedly warned even those who are fully vaccinated to take precautions.

 
Penn, who is fully vaccinated, recently returned from Cannes where his film ‘Flag Day’ had premiered and the actor received a standing ovation after the screening.&nbsp;

Hollywood actor Sean Penn has reportedly refused to return on set for shooting his upcoming Watergate series, ‘Gaslit’. According to a confirmed report by an entertainment portal, Penn has demanded that the entire cast and crew get vaccinated before returning to work.

Hollywood actor Sean Penn has reportedly refused to return on set for shooting his upcoming Watergate series, ‘Gaslit’. According to a confirmed report by an entertainment portal, Penn has demanded that the entire cast and crew get vaccinated before returning to work. The Oscar-winning actor’s decision comes after a huge spike in Coronavirus cases as the highly contagious delta variant spreads throughout California and U.S. In Los Angeles County, COVID-19 cases are reaching levels not witnessed since the winter spike and local officials have reportedly warned even those who are fully vaccinated to take precautions. Penn, who is fully vaccinated, recently returned from Cannes where his film ‘Flag Day’ had premiered and the actor received a standing ovation after the screening.

Sean Penn refuses to return to work on ‘Gaslit’, demands total cast & crew vaccination

Business activity in the&nbsp;eurozone&nbsp;shot ahead at its fastest rate in 21 years in July, a closely watched survey said on Friday, as the economy went into full throttle with loosened <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> restrictions.

But the survey showed that the spread of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta variant </a>was beginning to chip away at business confidence, with concern that new measures could again sow chaos in the economy.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-eu-hikes-economic-recovery-forecast-as-downside-risks-emerge-396654/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The PMI composite index from economic data group IHS Markit said activity rose from 59.5 in June to a strong 60.6 in July, well above the 50-point level that indicates growth.

With the summer in full swing, Chris Williamson, chief economist at IHS Markit, said that the tourism and hospitality sectors were especially responsible for pushing the economy to historic growth levels.

However, for manufacturers, supply chain delays remained a "major concern", hurting production and pushing costs higher.&nbsp;

This, he warned, would likely "feed through to higher consumer prices in coming months" and make itself felt in the inflation data.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eurozone-enters-double-dip-recession-in-first-quarter-381725">Eurozone enters double-dip recession in first quarter</a>

Pointing to a darker days ahead, Williamson said the delta variant posed "a major risk to the outlook".&nbsp;

"Not only have rising case numbers led to a slide in business optimism to the lowest since February, further covid waves around the world could lead to further global supply chain delays and hence ever higher prices."

Business activity in the eurozone shot ahead at its fastest rate in 21 years in July, a closely watched survey said on Friday, as the economy went into full throttle with loosened COVID-19 restrictions.

Business activity in the eurozone shot ahead at its fastest rate in 21 years in July, a closely watched survey said on Friday, as the economy went into full throttle with loosened COVID-19 restrictions. But the survey showed that the spread of the Delta variant was beginning to chip away at business confidence, with concern that new measures could again sow chaos in the economy. The PMI composite index from economic data group IHS Markit said activity rose from 59.5 in June to a strong 60.6 in July, well above the 50-point level that indicates growth. With the summer in full swing, Chris Williamson, chief economist at IHS Markit, said that the tourism and hospitality sectors were especially responsible for pushing the economy to historic growth levels. However, for manufacturers, supply chain delays remained a "major concern", hurting production and pushing costs higher. This, he warned, would likely "feed through to higher consumer prices in coming months" and make itself felt in the inflation data. Also read | Eurozone enters double-dip recession in first quarter Pointing to a darker days ahead, Williamson said the delta variant posed "a major risk to the outlook". "Not only have rising case numbers led to a slide in business optimism to the lowest since February, further covid waves around the world could lead to further global supply chain delays and hence ever higher prices."

Eurozone economy booms at fastest rate in 21 years

COVID-19 cases nearly tripled in the United States over two weeks amid an onslaught of vaccine misinformation that is straining hospitals, exhausting doctors. Health officials have blamed the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant and also the slow vaccination rates for the rise in cases.

COVID-19 cases nearly triple in US over two weeks amid vaccine misinformation

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president Anthony Fauci has said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for more than 80% of new infections in the country.

He noted that the&nbsp;approved COVID-19 vaccines are more than 90% efficient in avoiding hospitalisations and deaths in the US.&nbsp;

Fauci made this statement during a US Senate hearing on Tuesday.

The hearing featured a heated argument between Republican US Senator Rand Paul and Fauci, in which Paul accused Fauci of lying about the National Institutes of Health sponsoring research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-norovirus-outbreak-in-uk-amid-wuhan-virus-resurgence-399315/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-cases-rapidly-rising-in-us-as-delta-variant-dominates-396690/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In the United States, the origins of the novel coronavirus have become a contentious political thing, with Republicans calling for more investigation into whether it was created in a Wuhan, China.

Late in May, Biden directed aides to look into the virus's origins and report back to him within 90 days.

COVID-19-related deaths in the United States have averaged 239 a day over the last week, up roughly 48 percent over the previous week, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president Anthony Fauci has said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for more than 80% of new infections in the country.

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president Anthony Fauci has said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for more than 80% of new infections in the country. He noted that the approved COVID-19 vaccines are more than 90% efficient in avoiding hospitalisations and deaths in the US. Fauci made this statement during a US Senate hearing on Tuesday. The hearing featured a heated argument between Republican US Senator Rand Paul and Fauci, in which Paul accused Fauci of lying about the National Institutes of Health sponsoring research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates In the United States, the origins of the novel coronavirus have become a contentious political thing, with Republicans calling for more investigation into whether it was created in a Wuhan, China. Late in May, Biden directed aides to look into the virus's origins and report back to him within 90 days. COVID-19-related deaths in the United States have averaged 239 a day over the last week, up roughly 48 percent over the previous week, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky. (With inputs from agencies)

Delta variant behind over 80% of new COVID-19 cases in US: Anthony Fauci

US Senator Rand Paul and Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government's top public health experts, had a heated confrontation during a hearing Tuesday after Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting research in Wuhan, China.

Paul questioned Fauci about an NIH-funded study that he claims qualifies as a gain of function research, which involves&nbsp;changing a pathogen to make it more transmissible to better forecast new diseases. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-norovirus-outbreak-in-uk-amid-wuhan-virus-resurgence-399315/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In prior Senate testimony, Fauci had denied that the NIH had actively financed research at a lab in Wuhan, China, which has been questioned as a possible source of the virus.

Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-cases-rapidly-rising-in-us-as-delta-variant-dominates-396690/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“I have not lied before Congress. I have never lied. Certainly not before Congress. Case closed,” Fauci told Paul before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, saying a study the senator mentioned referenced a different sort of virus entirely from the one responsible for the coronavirus outbreak.

“Senator Paul, you do not know what you’re talking about, quite frankly,” Fauci said. "And I want to say that officially. You do not know what you’re talking about.”

He added, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.”

(With inputs from agencies)

US Senator Rand Paul and Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government's top public health experts, had a heated confrontation during a hearing Tuesday after Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting research in Wuhan, China.

US Senator Rand Paul and Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government's top public health experts, had a heated confrontation during a hearing Tuesday after Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting research in Wuhan, China. Paul questioned Fauci about an NIH-funded study that he claims qualifies as a gain of function research, which involves changing a pathogen to make it more transmissible to better forecast new diseases. Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence In prior Senate testimony, Fauci had denied that the NIH had actively financed research at a lab in Wuhan, China, which has been questioned as a possible source of the virus. Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates “I have not lied before Congress. I have never lied. Certainly not before Congress. Case closed,” Fauci told Paul before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, saying a study the senator mentioned referenced a different sort of virus entirely from the one responsible for the coronavirus outbreak. “Senator Paul, you do not know what you’re talking about, quite frankly,” Fauci said. "And I want to say that officially. You do not know what you’re talking about.” He added, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘If anybody is lying here, it is you’: Fauci and Paul clash on coronavirus origins

Coca-Cola Co will rely on its pandemic-tested strategy of focusing on bigger brands and doubling down on its supply chain to combat a potential impact from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta variant</a> of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>, its finance chief said on Wednesday.

CFO John Murphy's comments come as the re-opening of global economies helped the beverage giant beat second-quarter expectations and raise its full-year sales forecast, sending the Dow component's shares up as much as 3 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/coca-cola-loses-4-billion-as-cristiano-ronaldo-removes-soft-drink-bottles-at-a-presser-391777">Coca Cola loses $4 billion as Cristiano Ronaldo removes soft drink bottles at a presser</a>

Surging infections from Australia to the United States have brought back lockdowns and other restrictions in some regions, raising fears over the pace of the economic recovery and rattling stock markets earlier this week.

Sales in some markets in Asia were hit in the second quarter from the resurgence, Murphy said, adding some likely impact of the variant was baked into the raised sales forecast.

"When things get more constrained, the bigger brands are the ones you focus on," Murphy told Reuters.

Coca-Cola has streamlined its product range over the past year to ease the fallout from the pandemic. The company, which owns brands such as Sprite, Fanta and Dasani, has discontinued its TaB diet soda and Coca-Cola Energy brands in the United States and sold its ZICO coconut water brand.

The company is particularly vulnerable to the closing of theatres, restaurants and stadiums, unlike rival PepsiCo that relies more on grocery and retail channels.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coca-cola-promotes-anti-white-rhetoric-invites-backlash-365070">Coca-Cola promotes anti-white rhetoric, invites backlash</a>

"If we have a re-closing of venues or capacity restrictions re-implemented, Coke sales are going to suffer. For that reason we view it as the riskier name to Pepsi," said Garrett Nelson, senior equity analyst at CFRA Research.

Coca-Cola's adjusted overall revenue rose 41.1 per cent in the second quarter to $10.13 billion, beating estimates of $9.32 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitv.

The company raised its annual organic revenue target to an increase of 12 per cent to 14 per cent, from the high single digits rise expected earlier. Annual adjusted earnings per share are expected to rise 13 per cent to 15 per cent.

Adjusted earnings of 68 cents per share beat expectations of 56 cents.

Coca-Cola Co will rely on its pandemic-tested strategy of focusing on bigger brands and doubling down on its supply chain to combat a potential impact from the Delta variant of the coronavirus, its finance chief said on Wednesday.

Coca-Cola Co will rely on its pandemic-tested strategy of focusing on bigger brands and doubling down on its supply chain to combat a potential impact from the Delta variant of the coronavirus, its finance chief said on Wednesday. CFO John Murphy's comments come as the re-opening of global economies helped the beverage giant beat second-quarter expectations and raise its full-year sales forecast, sending the Dow component's shares up as much as 3 per cent. Also read | Coca Cola loses $4 billion as Cristiano Ronaldo removes soft drink bottles at a presser Surging infections from Australia to the United States have brought back lockdowns and other restrictions in some regions, raising fears over the pace of the economic recovery and rattling stock markets earlier this week. Sales in some markets in Asia were hit in the second quarter from the resurgence, Murphy said, adding some likely impact of the variant was baked into the raised sales forecast. "When things get more constrained, the bigger brands are the ones you focus on," Murphy told Reuters. Coca-Cola has streamlined its product range over the past year to ease the fallout from the pandemic. The company, which owns brands such as Sprite, Fanta and Dasani, has discontinued its TaB diet soda and Coca-Cola Energy brands in the United States and sold its ZICO coconut water brand. The company is particularly vulnerable to the closing of theatres, restaurants and stadiums, unlike rival PepsiCo that relies more on grocery and retail channels. Also read | Coca-Cola promotes anti-white rhetoric, invites backlash "If we have a re-closing of venues or capacity restrictions re-implemented, Coke sales are going to suffer. For that reason we view it as the riskier name to Pepsi," said Garrett Nelson, senior equity analyst at CFRA Research. Coca-Cola's adjusted overall revenue rose 41.1 per cent in the second quarter to $10.13 billion, beating estimates of $9.32 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitv. The company raised its annual organic revenue target to an increase of 12 per cent to 14 per cent, from the high single digits rise expected earlier. Annual adjusted earnings per share are expected to rise 13 per cent to 15 per cent. Adjusted earnings of 68 cents per share beat expectations of 56 cents.

Coca-Cola leans on early pandemic lessons to prepare for Delta variant hit

As the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> infections are increasing, owing to new variants, a minister has claimed that the reimposition of Covid curfews cannot be completely ruled out.

The comment was issued by junior European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune to a local media house, BFM TV, on Monday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-thousands-protest-in-france-against-health-pass-398783">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-thousands-protest-in-france-against-health-pass-398783/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

His statement comes a little after the French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-prepares-law-to-ensure-mandatory-vaccination-for-health-workers-396767">restrictions for unvaccinated</a> people in the country. While Macron had earlier claimed that vaccines will not be compulsory, his government has now been pushing people to get inoculated against the dangerous virus as soon as possible.

The statement has reinstated fears of another lockdown in the country, which has not appealed to the locals who had earlier spent weeks locked in their homes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-allows-travellers-vaccinated-with-covishield-to-enter-country-398745">France allows travellers vaccinated with Covishield to enter country</a>

This has also led to continuous protests against Macron and his government’s Covid regulations. Locals have taken to the streets to voice their concerns against the revival and extension of coronavirus regulations.

Meanwhile, France has also made <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-to-require-24-hour-negative-covid-19-test-for-some-european-arrivals-398657">Covid negative results</a> compulsory for travellers entering the country from some of the European nations.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule, which comes into effect at midnight Saturday into Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a statement.

As the coronavirus infections are increasing, owing to new variants, a minister has claimed that the reimposition of Covid curfews cannot be completely ruled out.

As the coronavirus infections are increasing, owing to new variants, a minister has claimed that the reimposition of Covid curfews cannot be completely ruled out. The comment was issued by junior European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune to a local media house, BFM TV, on Monday. WATCH | His statement comes a little after the French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced restrictions for unvaccinated people in the country. While Macron had earlier claimed that vaccines will not be compulsory, his government has now been pushing people to get inoculated against the dangerous virus as soon as possible. The statement has reinstated fears of another lockdown in the country, which has not appealed to the locals who had earlier spent weeks locked in their homes. Also read | France allows travellers vaccinated with Covishield to enter country This has also led to continuous protests against Macron and his government’s Covid regulations. Locals have taken to the streets to voice their concerns against the revival and extension of coronavirus regulations. Meanwhile, France has also made Covid negative results compulsory for travellers entering the country from some of the European nations. Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule, which comes into effect at midnight Saturday into Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a statement.

Reimposition of Covid curfews cannot be ruled out in France: Minister

The country’s hospitals are rapidly running out of essentials including oxygen cylinders. Hospital beds are rapidly running short too.

India extends help to Indonesia amid rising covid-19 cases

When the United States thought that it had managed to defeat the coronavirus, the moving seven day average of the new number of cases has now increased pretty much on a day-to-day basis for more than a week and all this has been blamed on the fastest spreading strain of COVID-19.

New York: COVID cases rise as Delta variant spreads

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

In what comes as a shock, Catt Sadler, former E! Host, has contracted the Delta variant of COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated.&nbsp;

Talking about the severity of the new variant of coronavirus, Catt warned her Instagram followers in a post and wrote, “I’m telling you this so that you understand that the pandemic is very much NOT over”, along with a photo of herself in bed.&nbsp;

“Delta is relentless and highly contagious and grabbed ahold of me even after getting vaccinated,” she wrote.

Catt explained that she contracted the Delta variant of the virus while caring for an unvaccinated person who was sick with it, despite wearing a mask while in their presence.

She wrote, “I assumed I would be fine. Well I’m not. I’m one of many breakthrough cases that we are seeing more of each and every day. Two days of a fever now. Head throbbing. Extreme congestion. Even some weird puss coming out of my eye. Serious fatigue; no energy to even leave the bed.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRwAl_DkG4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRwAl_DkG4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRwAl_DkG4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRwAl_DkG4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by CATT SADLER (@iamcattsadler)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

“I’m no MD but I’m here to remind you that the vaccine isn’t full proof. **Vaccines lessen the likelihood of hospitalization and death but you can still catch this thing,” she wrote. “So continue to protect yourselves.”

In what comes as a shock, Catt Sadler, former E! Host, has contracted the Delta variant of COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. Talking about the severity of the new variant of coronavirus, Catt warned her Instagram followers in a post and wrote, “I’m telling you this so that you understand that the pandemic is very much NOT over”, along with a photo of herself in bed.

In what comes as a shock, Catt Sadler, former E! Host, has contracted the Delta variant of COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. Talking about the severity of the new variant of coronavirus, Catt warned her Instagram followers in a post and wrote, “I’m telling you this so that you understand that the pandemic is very much NOT over”, along with a photo of herself in bed. “Delta is relentless and highly contagious and grabbed ahold of me even after getting vaccinated,” she wrote. Catt explained that she contracted the Delta variant of the virus while caring for an unvaccinated person who was sick with it, despite wearing a mask while in their presence. She wrote, “I assumed I would be fine. Well I’m not. I’m one of many breakthrough cases that we are seeing more of each and every day. Two days of a fever now. Head throbbing. Extreme congestion. Even some weird puss coming out of my eye. Serious fatigue; no energy to even leave the bed.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by CATT SADLER (@iamcattsadler) × “I’m no MD but I’m here to remind you that the vaccine isn’t full proof. **Vaccines lessen the likelihood of hospitalization and death but you can still catch this thing,” she wrote. “So continue to protect yourselves.”

TV host Catt Sadler infected with Covid Delta variant after getting fully vaccinated; read her post here

In a speech about COVID-19, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday warned, "Unfortunately...we are now in the early stages of a third wave."

"The Delta variant is present in more than 111 countries, and if it isn't already, we expect it to become the main COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide soon," he said.&nbsp;

"The expansion of the Delta variant, together with increased social mobility and inconsistent application of proven public health measures, is driving an increase in both case numbers and deaths," the WHO's chief said.

Last week was the fourth week in a row that COVID-19 instances increased globally, with rises in all but one of the WHO's six regions.

Deaths are also on the rise again, following 10 weeks of steady decline.&nbsp;

Delta plus more transmissible than Delta

Sub-lineages of the Delta variant — AY.1, which is commonly known as the Delta Plus, and AY.2---are unlikely to be more transmissible than the parent, said INSACOG, a consortium of government panels involved in genome sequencing of coronavirus.

These two sub-lineages are also below 1 per cent in the genome samples sequenced in the country in June, it said in a recent bulletin.

INSACOG also said AY.3 has been identified as a new Delta sub-lineage and it is defined by ORF1a: I3731V common AY.1 mutations except for S: K417.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a speech about COVID-19, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday warned, "Unfortunately...we are now in the early stages of a third wave.

In a speech about COVID-19, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday warned, "Unfortunately...we are now in the early stages of a third wave." "The Delta variant is present in more than 111 countries, and if it isn't already, we expect it to become the main COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide soon," he said. "The expansion of the Delta variant, together with increased social mobility and inconsistent application of proven public health measures, is driving an increase in both case numbers and deaths," the WHO's chief said. Last week was the fourth week in a row that COVID-19 instances increased globally, with rises in all but one of the WHO's six regions. Deaths are also on the rise again, following 10 weeks of steady decline. Delta plus more transmissible than Delta Sub-lineages of the Delta variant — AY.1, which is commonly known as the Delta Plus, and AY.2---are unlikely to be more transmissible than the parent, said INSACOG, a consortium of government panels involved in genome sequencing of coronavirus. These two sub-lineages are also below 1 per cent in the genome samples sequenced in the country in June, it said in a recent bulletin. INSACOG also said AY.3 has been identified as a new Delta sub-lineage and it is defined by ORF1a: I3731V common AY.1 mutations except for S: K417. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: WHO warns 'early stages' of third wave is here, amid Delta variant surge

Malaysia reported 11,079 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, the most number of cases recorded in a single day since the start of the pandemic. The country has been struggling to contain the recent outbreak driven by the emergence of new, more contagious variants despite much of the country being under a lockdown since June 1.

Malaysia records new high of 11,079 COVID-19 cases

Weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the Delta variant of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> as a "variant of concern", the organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned about the alarming increase of the ‘highly transmissible' variant.

Tedros warned that the Delta variant has now spread to 104 countries and will soon become the dominant variant of COVID-19 in the world. This will result in a deadly increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwia0Myk1ODxAhVvyzgGHUfWA24QFjAAegQICRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3UXKMaieyzeR87nNuRMVuX" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450" target="_blank">COVID-19: All you need to know about&nbsp;Delta Plus&nbsp;variant</a>

He also highlighted that the situation is worse in the countries that are struggling to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinate</a> their citizens, especially the third-world and poor countries.

"My message today is that we are experiencing a worsening public health emergency that further threatens lives, livelihoods and a sound global economic recovery. It is definitely worse in places that have very few vaccines, but the pandemic is not over anywhere," he said in a press briefing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-chief-scientist-warns-against-mixing-and-matching-different-covid-vaccines-397774" hreflang="en">WHO chief scientist warns against 'mixing and matching' different Covid vaccines</a>

His warning has come as the Covid related deaths have once again started increasing after observing a decline of only 10 days.

"In places with high vaccination coverage, Delta, first detected in India, is spreading quickly, especially infecting unprotected and vulnerable people and steadily putting pressure back on health systems. In countries with low vaccine coverage, the situation is particularly bad," he warned people.

He also stressed that the countries which had managed to stay clear of the first few waves of COVID-19 can also be targeted by the deadly variant. "Even countries that successfully managed to ward off the early waves of the virus, through public health measures alone, are now in the midst of devastating outbreaks," he warned.

Weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the Delta variant of coronavirus as a "variant of concern", the organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned about the alarming increase of the ‘highly transmissible' variant.

Weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the Delta variant of coronavirus as a "variant of concern", the organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned about the alarming increase of the ‘highly transmissible' variant. Tedros warned that the Delta variant has now spread to 104 countries and will soon become the dominant variant of COVID-19 in the world. This will result in a deadly increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths. Also read | COVID-19: All you need to know about Delta Plus variant He also highlighted that the situation is worse in the countries that are struggling to vaccinate their citizens, especially the third-world and poor countries. "My message today is that we are experiencing a worsening public health emergency that further threatens lives, livelihoods and a sound global economic recovery. It is definitely worse in places that have very few vaccines, but the pandemic is not over anywhere," he said in a press briefing. Also read | WHO chief scientist warns against 'mixing and matching' different Covid vaccines His warning has come as the Covid related deaths have once again started increasing after observing a decline of only 10 days. "In places with high vaccination coverage, Delta, first detected in India, is spreading quickly, especially infecting unprotected and vulnerable people and steadily putting pressure back on health systems. In countries with low vaccine coverage, the situation is particularly bad," he warned people. He also stressed that the countries which had managed to stay clear of the first few waves of COVID-19 can also be targeted by the deadly variant. "Even countries that successfully managed to ward off the early waves of the virus, through public health measures alone, are now in the midst of devastating outbreaks," he warned.

Delta variant getting more dangerous and can soon be dominant, WHO Chief warns

Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty, who lives in an apartment complex in Mumbai called ‘Prithvi Apartments’, has been sealed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after five cases of Coronavirus were detected in the building.&nbsp;

 
Out of those five cases that have tested positive for the virus, three of them are of Delta varian, claim reports.&nbsp;

 
BMC's Assistant Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad (D Ward) just recently revealed that Prithvi Apartments was sealed on Saturday and that people were not allowed to come. When reporters prodded him for answers as to why were people still frequenting the building despite it being sealed by the governing municipal corporation, Gaikwad agreed that this is a violation of the COVID-19 protocols. “From now on, we will deploy police outside the building so that not a single person of the building can be called outside the premises,” he was quoted as saying by a news agency.&nbsp;

 
Actor Suniel Shetty's entire family lives on the 18th floor of the aforementioned building. However, BMC officials revealed to reporters that Shetty’s entire family is safe as of now and that nothing has happened to any of them. They also said that further test results are awaited.&nbsp;

 
As per MBC guidelines, if five or more COVID-19 cases are found in any building, then that building is sealed by the corporation and declared a ‘micro-containment area.&nbsp;

Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty, who lives in an apartment complex in Mumbai called ‘Prithvi Apartments’, has been sealed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after five cases of Coronavirus were detected in the building.

Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty, who lives in an apartment complex in Mumbai called ‘Prithvi Apartments’, has been sealed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after five cases of Coronavirus were detected in the building. Out of those five cases that have tested positive for the virus, three of them are of Delta varian, claim reports. BMC's Assistant Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad (D Ward) just recently revealed that Prithvi Apartments was sealed on Saturday and that people were not allowed to come. When reporters prodded him for answers as to why were people still frequenting the building despite it being sealed by the governing municipal corporation, Gaikwad agreed that this is a violation of the COVID-19 protocols. “From now on, we will deploy police outside the building so that not a single person of the building can be called outside the premises,” he was quoted as saying by a news agency. Actor Suniel Shetty's entire family lives on the 18th floor of the aforementioned building. However, BMC officials revealed to reporters that Shetty’s entire family is safe as of now and that nothing has happened to any of them. They also said that further test results are awaited. As per MBC guidelines, if five or more COVID-19 cases are found in any building, then that building is sealed by the corporation and declared a ‘micro-containment area.

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty’s residential complex sealed as three Delta variant COVID cases detected

Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that they would seek the FDA's approval for the third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine to boost its efficacy, as the Delta variant is increasingly becoming a global dominant.

Pfizer-BioNTech to seek FDA approval for third dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Covid cases are rising rapidly in the United States as the highly contagious Delta variant dominates and vaccinations stagnate, data showed Wednesday.

The seven-day average of new cases was 13,859 as of July 6, up 21 per cent compared to two weeks earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-at-a-perilous-point-covid-19-death-toll-crosses-4-million-worldwide-396576">Also read | 'World at a perilous point': COVID-19 death toll crosses 4 million worldwide</a> 
 
Cases attributed to the most recent days might rise further because of a reporting lag following the July 4 holiday weekend.

The spike comes as the Delta variant, which is more transmissible than any previous strain, accounted for around 52 per cent of cases in the two weeks ending July 3, according to the CDC. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cdc-says-delta-variant-dominant-in-us-makes-up-more-than-half-of-covid-19-cases-396567" hreflang="en">CDC says Delta variant dominant in US, makes up more than half of COVID-19 cases</a>

Despite having among the highest availability of vaccines of any country, America's immunization campaign has dropped off steeply since April.

President Joe Biden narrowly missed his goal of having 70 per cent of adults at least partly vaccinated by Independence Day, with the current figure at 67 per cent. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-china-records-highest-daily-covid-cases-indonesia-reports-highest-deaths-396547" hreflang="en">Coronavirus: China records highest daily Covid cases, Indonesia reports highest deaths</a>

Regions in the Midwest and South with lower vaccination rates are experiencing higher case rates than regions with high vaccination rates such as the Northeast, a trend that has become increasingly clear in recent weeks.

A hospital in Springfield, Missouri, ran out of ventilators to treat hospitalized Covid patients over the weekend, local media reported.

The city of 160,000's two hospitals were treating 213 COVID-19 patients as of Monday, up from 168 on Friday and 31 on May 24, the Kansas City Star said.

"The trajectory that we're likely to see is two different flavours of the pandemic in the United States, one in which it's more of a problem in places where there's a high level of unvaccinated individuals," Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security told AFP.

"In other parts of the country, the pandemic is largely going to be something that's managed as more of an ordinary respiratory virus," he added.

Adalja said that even with Delta becoming the dominant strain, he envisioned a "decoupling" of hospitalizations and deaths from rising cases in highly vaccinated regions, as has been seen in Israel.

"Increasingly, I think we have to start to shift our focus away from cases and look at hospitalisations because that's what the vaccine was designed to do -- it was designed to decouple cases from hospitalization," he said.

Real-world data has shown that the Pfizer, Johnson &amp; Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines have retained high efficacy against severe Covid and the same is almost certainly true of the Moderna vaccine, according to experts.

Covid cases are rising rapidly in the United States as the highly contagious Delta variant dominates and vaccinations stagnate, data showed Wednesday. The seven-day average of new cases was 13,859 as of July 6, up 21 per cent compared to two weeks earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Covid cases are rising rapidly in the United States as the highly contagious Delta variant dominates and vaccinations stagnate, data showed Wednesday. The seven-day average of new cases was 13,859 as of July 6, up 21 per cent compared to two weeks earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Also read | 'World at a perilous point': COVID-19 death toll crosses 4 million worldwide Cases attributed to the most recent days might rise further because of a reporting lag following the July 4 holiday weekend. The spike comes as the Delta variant, which is more transmissible than any previous strain, accounted for around 52 per cent of cases in the two weeks ending July 3, according to the CDC. Also read | CDC says Delta variant dominant in US, makes up more than half of COVID-19 cases Despite having among the highest availability of vaccines of any country, America's immunization campaign has dropped off steeply since April. President Joe Biden narrowly missed his goal of having 70 per cent of adults at least partly vaccinated by Independence Day, with the current figure at 67 per cent. Also read | Coronavirus: China records highest daily Covid cases, Indonesia reports highest deaths Regions in the Midwest and South with lower vaccination rates are experiencing higher case rates than regions with high vaccination rates such as the Northeast, a trend that has become increasingly clear in recent weeks. A hospital in Springfield, Missouri, ran out of ventilators to treat hospitalized Covid patients over the weekend, local media reported. The city of 160,000's two hospitals were treating 213 COVID-19 patients as of Monday, up from 168 on Friday and 31 on May 24, the Kansas City Star said. "The trajectory that we're likely to see is two different flavours of the pandemic in the United States, one in which it's more of a problem in places where there's a high level of unvaccinated individuals," Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security told AFP. "In other parts of the country, the pandemic is largely going to be something that's managed as more of an ordinary respiratory virus," he added. Adalja said that even with Delta becoming the dominant strain, he envisioned a "decoupling" of hospitalizations and deaths from rising cases in highly vaccinated regions, as has been seen in Israel. "Increasingly, I think we have to start to shift our focus away from cases and look at hospitalisations because that's what the vaccine was designed to do -- it was designed to decouple cases from hospitalization," he said. Real-world data has shown that the Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines have retained high efficacy against severe Covid and the same is almost certainly true of the Moderna vaccine, according to experts.

Delta variant now dominates US as Covid cases rise rapidly

Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 201 deaths due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, the highest single-day fatalities, a day after the country registered a record number of fresh cases.

According to health officials, the coronavirus has so far killed 15,593 people in the country.

The 201 deaths surpassed the previous high of 164 which was recorded on Monday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/covid-19-bangladesh-extends-strict-nationwide-lockdown-till-july-14-396082">COVID-19: Bangladesh extends 'strict' nationwide lockdown till July 14</a>

The Directorate of Health Services (DGHS) said that the death rate now stands at 1.60 per cent and infection rate at 31.32 per cent with overnight detection of another 11,162 cases.

DGHS spokesman Nazmul Islam said the situation prompted them to turn some existing health facilities into COVID-19 dedicated centres.

"The fatality and infection rates are on the rise,&nbsp;the situation is alarming as we are yet to see the peak of the pandemic," he told PTI.

He said that breaking the infection chain was the only solution. Stricter enforcement of the (ongoing nationwide) shutdown is now the only option to flatten the rate.

"People must stay indoors as much as possible as we are running out of our resources to face the crisis," Islam added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-extends-lockdown-amid-virus-surge-396038">Bangladesh extends lockdown amid virus surge</a>

Doctors said that a surge of patients continued to rise in hospitals and half of them were reporting with critical conditions.

"The patients are dying despite our maximum efforts," a doctor at a Dhaka hospital earlier said.

The DGHS data shows that southwestern Khulna remained the coronavirus hotspot in terms of deaths and cases among the 64 administrative districts, followed by Dhaka. The doctors attributed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta variant</a> to 80 per cent of cases.

The surge increased last month when the Delta variant hit the country's border in northern and southwestern border regions as Bangladesh shares a large frontier with India.

The DGHS said that 50 per cent of patients were now found in rural areas, a phenomenon that rules out a general perception that cities were more exposed to the pandemic.&nbsp;

Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 201 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest single-day fatalities, a day after the country registered a record number of fresh cases.

Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 201 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest single-day fatalities, a day after the country registered a record number of fresh cases. According to health officials, the coronavirus has so far killed 15,593 people in the country. The 201 deaths surpassed the previous high of 164 which was recorded on Monday. Also read | COVID-19: Bangladesh extends 'strict' nationwide lockdown till July 14 The Directorate of Health Services (DGHS) said that the death rate now stands at 1.60 per cent and infection rate at 31.32 per cent with overnight detection of another 11,162 cases. DGHS spokesman Nazmul Islam said the situation prompted them to turn some existing health facilities into COVID-19 dedicated centres. "The fatality and infection rates are on the rise, the situation is alarming as we are yet to see the peak of the pandemic," he told PTI. He said that breaking the infection chain was the only solution. Stricter enforcement of the (ongoing nationwide) shutdown is now the only option to flatten the rate. "People must stay indoors as much as possible as we are running out of our resources to face the crisis," Islam added. Also read | Bangladesh extends lockdown amid virus surge Doctors said that a surge of patients continued to rise in hospitals and half of them were reporting with critical conditions. "The patients are dying despite our maximum efforts," a doctor at a Dhaka hospital earlier said. The DGHS data shows that southwestern Khulna remained the coronavirus hotspot in terms of deaths and cases among the 64 administrative districts, followed by Dhaka. The doctors attributed the Delta variant to 80 per cent of cases. The surge increased last month when the Delta variant hit the country's border in northern and southwestern border regions as Bangladesh shares a large frontier with India. The DGHS said that 50 per cent of patients were now found in rural areas, a phenomenon that rules out a general perception that cities were more exposed to the pandemic.

COVID-19: Bangladesh sees record 201 single-day fatalities

COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly in the United States as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread at a time when the vaccination drive has become largely stagnate.

COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates

Myanmar&nbsp;authorities announced&nbsp;stay-at-home&nbsp;measures in parts of commercial capital&nbsp;Yangon&nbsp;on Wednesday, as the country reported its highest daily <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> caseload in months.

From Thursday, a ban on more than one person leaving home for non-medical reasons will apply to 10&nbsp;Yangon&nbsp;townships, which together are home to around 1.5 million people.

No timeframe was given for the restrictions, on townships including Hlaing Thar Yar, the scene of huge pro-democracy protests met by a brutal military crackdown after the country's February coup.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-orders-2-million-to-stay-home-as-covid-19-cases-spike-395405">Myanmar orders 2 million to stay home as COVID-19 cases spike</a>

Yangon&nbsp;is home to an estimated seven million people.

Those travelling to government jobs are exempt, according to the announcement from the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council, as the military junta calls itself.

Authorities reported almost 4,000 new&nbsp;cases&nbsp;on Wednesday, compared with fewer than 50 per day in early May.

Myanmar's creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to&nbsp;COVID-19 even before the coup, which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families.

Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-covid-19-outbreak-hits-health-system-shattered-after-coup-388299">Myanmar COVID-19 outbreak hits health system shattered after coup</a>

Around 1.75 million people have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a>&nbsp;in the country of 54 million, state TV said Wednesday, with authorities rushing to secure more doses from Russia and China.

Two million doses would arrive in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;shortly, it added, without providing details.

On Wednesday China reported its highest daily caseload in six months, thanks partly to a&nbsp;spike&nbsp;in&nbsp;cases&nbsp;in the town of Ruili, a major crossing point from Muse in&nbsp;Myanmar.

Of 57 new infections, 12 were&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;nationals, according to health authorities in Yunnan province, who blamed the outbreak on the more contagious Delta variant.

Myanmar authorities announced stay-at-home measures in parts of commercial capital Yangon on Wednesday, as the country reported its highest daily coronavirus caseload in months.

Myanmar authorities announced stay-at-home measures in parts of commercial capital Yangon on Wednesday, as the country reported its highest daily coronavirus caseload in months. From Thursday, a ban on more than one person leaving home for non-medical reasons will apply to 10 Yangon townships, which together are home to around 1.5 million people. No timeframe was given for the restrictions, on townships including Hlaing Thar Yar, the scene of huge pro-democracy protests met by a brutal military crackdown after the country's February coup. Also read | Myanmar orders 2 million to stay home as COVID-19 cases spike Yangon is home to an estimated seven million people. Those travelling to government jobs are exempt, according to the announcement from the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council, as the military junta calls itself. Authorities reported almost 4,000 new cases on Wednesday, compared with fewer than 50 per day in early May. Myanmar's creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to COVID-19 even before the coup, which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families. Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime. Also read | Myanmar COVID-19 outbreak hits health system shattered after coup Around 1.75 million people have been vaccinated in the country of 54 million, state TV said Wednesday, with authorities rushing to secure more doses from Russia and China. Two million doses would arrive in Myanmar shortly, it added, without providing details. On Wednesday China reported its highest daily caseload in six months, thanks partly to a spike in cases in the town of Ruili, a major crossing point from Muse in Myanmar. Of 57 new infections, 12 were Myanmar nationals, according to health authorities in Yunnan province, who blamed the outbreak on the more contagious Delta variant.

Stay-at-home orders in Myanmar's Yangon as Covid cases spike

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the&nbsp;highly contagious Delta variant has become the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, accounting for more than 51 per cent of Covid infections in the country.

The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in India in December and is spreading quickly across the globe. In some parts of America&nbsp;the delta strain accounts for more than 80 per cent of new infections, including some Midwestern states like Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/32-us-states-miss-july-4-vaccination-goal-396044/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It is already causing 74.3 per cent of infections in Western states, including Utah and Colorado, and 58.8 per cent of infections in Southern states like Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, according to CDC estimates.

New Covid infections with the Delta variant now account for 51.7 per cent of the infections. The B.1.1.7 or Alpha variant makes up for 28.7 per cent cases after remaining a dominant variant for months, the data said.

US&nbsp;infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony&nbsp;Fauci had said that the&nbsp;Delta variant of the novel coronavirus that was first found in India is the greatest threat to the United States' effort to eradicate COVID-19 in its borders.

"The transmissibility is unquestionably greater" in the Delta variant than the original variant of COVID-19,&nbsp;Fauci&nbsp;said, adding that "it is associated with an increased disease severity."

The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization's chief scientist said.

The variant poses a "significant threat," to unvaccinated people, said the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

According to the CDC, one in five children between 12 and 15 years old are fully vaccinated. In the 16 to 17-year-old age group, approximately one in three have got the shots.

In the Delta variant, the mutation is a change in position in its spike protein, which allows the virus to penetrate and infect healthy cells.

The Delta variant contributed to a severe outbreak of COVID-19 in India during April and May that overwhelmed health services in the country and killed hundreds of thousands.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the highly contagious Delta variant has become the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, accounting for more than 51 per cent of Covid infections in the country.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the highly contagious Delta variant has become the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, accounting for more than 51 per cent of Covid infections in the country. The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in India in December and is spreading quickly across the globe. In some parts of America the delta strain accounts for more than 80 per cent of new infections, including some Midwestern states like Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. It is already causing 74.3 per cent of infections in Western states, including Utah and Colorado, and 58.8 per cent of infections in Southern states like Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, according to CDC estimates. New Covid infections with the Delta variant now account for 51.7 per cent of the infections. The B.1.1.7 or Alpha variant makes up for 28.7 per cent cases after remaining a dominant variant for months, the data said. US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci had said that the Delta variant of the novel coronavirus that was first found in India is the greatest threat to the United States' effort to eradicate COVID-19 in its borders. "The transmissibility is unquestionably greater" in the Delta variant than the original variant of COVID-19, Fauci said, adding that "it is associated with an increased disease severity." The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization's chief scientist said. The variant poses a "significant threat," to unvaccinated people, said the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. According to the CDC, one in five children between 12 and 15 years old are fully vaccinated. In the 16 to 17-year-old age group, approximately one in three have got the shots. In the Delta variant, the mutation is a change in position in its spike protein, which allows the virus to penetrate and infect healthy cells. The Delta variant contributed to a severe outbreak of COVID-19 in India during April and May that overwhelmed health services in the country and killed hundreds of thousands. (With inputs from agencies)

CDC says Delta variant dominant in US, makes up more than half of COVID-19 cases

In a bid to further ease its travel curbs, Germany lifted a ban on travellers from India, the UK, and three other countries, where the delta variant of coronavirus has been found in the samples of COVID-19 patients.

Germany eases travel curbs, lifts ban on travellers from India and UK

President Joe Biden celebrated US Independence Day on Sunday with an upbeat assessment of a country he said is roaring back to post-pandemic life, even if COVID-19 has yet to be fully "vanquished."

Speaking before a festive crowd of 1,000 guests on the White House South Lawn, Biden drew a comparison between the declaration of independence from the British Empire in 1776 and today's rapid recovery from the coronavirus. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/could-your-face-mask-detect-covid-394963" hreflang="en">Could your face mask detect Covid?</a>

"Two hundred and forty five years ago, we declared our independence from a distant king. Today, we are closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus," he told the crowd of invited military members and essential workers.

"We've gained the upper hand against this virus," he said. But he added, "Don't get me wrong: COVID-19 has not been vanquished. We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the Delta variant."

Biden paid tribute to those who have lost their lives, with the staggering number of deaths in the United States now at more than 600,000. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-orders-investigation-into-ransomware-attack-that-targetted-1000-businesses-395642" hreflang="en">Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses</a>

But he struck an overwhelmingly optimistic note, suggesting that under his leadership the country -- bitterly and at times violently divided during the Donald Trump presidency -- was "coming back together."

"Over the last year, we have lived through some of our darkest days," Biden said. "We are about to see our brightest future."

Partying like pre-Covid

Large crowds packed the National Mall for a huge fireworks display in yet another sign that the United States is looking to its July 4th holiday as a moment to put the virus in the rear view mirror.

During last year's holiday, with the pandemic near its summer peak and towns across America reeling from anti-racism and anti-police protests, Washington and other big cities held only muted celebrations.

Despite the atmosphere of Sunday's victory party, the Biden administration says it is concerned about the large numbers of people who have still not got vaccinated.

The heavily promoted White House goal of getting seven in 10 adults their first shot by Independence Day has narrowly failed.

And when it comes to full vaccinations, only 46 percent of Americans have taken the two doses.

That lag comes as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread.

Public health officials are eying swaths of rural America where hospitals are starting to fill up again, especially in Utah, Missouri, Arkansas and Wyoming.

Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, told NBC unvaccinated people now account for 99.2 percent of COVID-19 deaths.

Summer agenda

The fireworks smoke will have barely cleared before Biden has to return to a complex political fight for the survival of his legislative agenda this summer.

Negotiations continue on a bipartisan infrastructure deal and fractious debate within his Democratic Party looms on a much broader spending package that has no support from Republicans.

The president visited a cherry farm in Michigan on Saturday to tout a positive June employment report hailed as a sign of America's economic resurgence.

In his speech on the South Lawn, Biden said the country was on the move again. "We're seeing record job creation and record economic growth -- the best in four decades and, I might add, the best in the world."

'American Dream'

The administration also sent cabinet secretaries and other officials to sports events, cookouts and festivals nationwide as part of its "America's Back Together" celebration.

And the White House -- at least outwardly -- continues to brim with confidence. Six in 10 respondents in a new poll by The Washington Post and ABC News give Biden positive ratings for his handling of the pandemic.

Images of a crowded South Lawn were echoed in scenes of celebration across the country, with New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and other cities all putting on their own shows.

On the west coast, San Diego was readying to stage one of the largest July 4 parties in the country, with fireworks discharged from four barges around the bay.

California Senator Alex Padilla called Independence Day "a reminder of the American dream."

"The best way to celebrate Independence Day is by taking a moment to acknowledge all the hard work that it took to get here," he said.

President Joe Biden celebrated US Independence Day on Sunday with an upbeat assessment of a country he said is roaring back to post-pandemic life, even if COVID-19 has yet to be fully "vanquished.

President Joe Biden celebrated US Independence Day on Sunday with an upbeat assessment of a country he said is roaring back to post-pandemic life, even if COVID-19 has yet to be fully "vanquished." Speaking before a festive crowd of 1,000 guests on the White House South Lawn, Biden drew a comparison between the declaration of independence from the British Empire in 1776 and today's rapid recovery from the coronavirus. Also read | Could your face mask detect Covid? "Two hundred and forty five years ago, we declared our independence from a distant king. Today, we are closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus," he told the crowd of invited military members and essential workers. "We've gained the upper hand against this virus," he said. But he added, "Don't get me wrong: COVID-19 has not been vanquished. We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the Delta variant." Biden paid tribute to those who have lost their lives, with the staggering number of deaths in the United States now at more than 600,000. Also read | Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses But he struck an overwhelmingly optimistic note, suggesting that under his leadership the country -- bitterly and at times violently divided during the Donald Trump presidency -- was "coming back together." "Over the last year, we have lived through some of our darkest days," Biden said. "We are about to see our brightest future." Partying like pre-Covid Large crowds packed the National Mall for a huge fireworks display in yet another sign that the United States is looking to its July 4th holiday as a moment to put the virus in the rear view mirror. During last year's holiday, with the pandemic near its summer peak and towns across America reeling from anti-racism and anti-police protests, Washington and other big cities held only muted celebrations. Despite the atmosphere of Sunday's victory party, the Biden administration says it is concerned about the large numbers of people who have still not got vaccinated. The heavily promoted White House goal of getting seven in 10 adults their first shot by Independence Day has narrowly failed. And when it comes to full vaccinations, only 46 percent of Americans have taken the two doses. That lag comes as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread. Public health officials are eying swaths of rural America where hospitals are starting to fill up again, especially in Utah, Missouri, Arkansas and Wyoming. Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, told NBC unvaccinated people now account for 99.2 percent of COVID-19 deaths. Summer agenda The fireworks smoke will have barely cleared before Biden has to return to a complex political fight for the survival of his legislative agenda this summer. Negotiations continue on a bipartisan infrastructure deal and fractious debate within his Democratic Party looms on a much broader spending package that has no support from Republicans. The president visited a cherry farm in Michigan on Saturday to tout a positive June employment report hailed as a sign of America's economic resurgence. In his speech on the South Lawn, Biden said the country was on the move again. "We're seeing record job creation and record economic growth -- the best in four decades and, I might add, the best in the world." 'American Dream' The administration also sent cabinet secretaries and other officials to sports events, cookouts and festivals nationwide as part of its "America's Back Together" celebration. And the White House -- at least outwardly -- continues to brim with confidence. Six in 10 respondents in a new poll by The Washington Post and ABC News give Biden positive ratings for his handling of the pandemic. Images of a crowded South Lawn were echoed in scenes of celebration across the country, with New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and other cities all putting on their own shows. On the west coast, San Diego was readying to stage one of the largest July 4 parties in the country, with fireworks discharged from four barges around the bay. California Senator Alex Padilla called Independence Day "a reminder of the American dream." "The best way to celebrate Independence Day is by taking a moment to acknowledge all the hard work that it took to get here," he said.

Don't get me wrong, COVID-19 has not been vanquished: US President Joe Biden 

As the US is set to miss its target of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinating</a> at least 70 per cent of the adult population by the Fourth of July, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> has expressed concern about the Delta variant of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> in the country.

The US observed an increase of at least 10 per cent in coronavirus cases and experts have revealed that the reason behind this increase in cases is the latest Delta variant which is highly contagious, especially in the areas where vaccination rates are low.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-orders-investigation-into-ransomware-attack-that-targetted-1000-businesses-395642" hreflang="en">Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses</a>

Although Biden claimed that COVID-19 is ‘on the run’, he said he fears more lives will be lost if people do not get vaccinated as soon as possible.

"I am concerned that people who have not gotten vaccinated have the capacity to catch the variant and spread the variant to other people who haven’t been vaccinated," Biden said. "I'm not concerned there’s going to be a major outbreak … another epidemic nationwide. But I am concerned lives will be lost."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/could-your-face-mask-detect-covid-394963" hreflang="en">Could your face mask detect Covid?</a>

Claiming that almost 25 per cent of the new coronavirus cases are linked to the Delta variant, he urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 while explaining that areas with low vaccination rates have become new hotspots for infections

As the US is set to miss its target of vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the adult population by the Fourth of July, Joe Biden has expressed concern about the Delta variant of coronavirus in the country.

As the US is set to miss its target of vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the adult population by the Fourth of July, Joe Biden has expressed concern about the Delta variant of coronavirus in the country. The US observed an increase of at least 10 per cent in coronavirus cases and experts have revealed that the reason behind this increase in cases is the latest Delta variant which is highly contagious, especially in the areas where vaccination rates are low. Also read | Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses Although Biden claimed that COVID-19 is ‘on the run’, he said he fears more lives will be lost if people do not get vaccinated as soon as possible. "I am concerned that people who have not gotten vaccinated have the capacity to catch the variant and spread the variant to other people who haven’t been vaccinated," Biden said. "I'm not concerned there’s going to be a major outbreak … another epidemic nationwide. But I am concerned lives will be lost." Also read | Could your face mask detect Covid? Claiming that almost 25 per cent of the new coronavirus cases are linked to the Delta variant, he urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 while explaining that areas with low vaccination rates have become new hotspots for infections

'COVID-19 on run but Delta variant is of concern': Joe Biden urges people to get vaccinated

Russia reported its fifth record for daily COVID-19 deaths in a row on Saturday, as countries around the world rushed to contain the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

The variant has propelled a resurgence of the virus which has already killed nearly four million people, forcing numerous nations to reimpose restrictions well over a year after the pandemic first swept the world.

Thousands of troops and police hit the streets in Indonesia to enforce a partial lockdown imposed on Saturday, as the country recorded a record 27,913 new daily cases as well as 493 deaths.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-on-run-but-delta-variant-is-of-concern-joe-biden-urges-people-to-get-vaccinated-395658">'Delta variant is of concern': Joe Biden urges people to get vaccinated</a>

Mosques, restaurants and shopping malls were shuttered in the capital Jakarta, across the main island of Java and on Bali after the daily caseload quadrupled in less than a month, with the Delta variant blamed.

The overwhelmed healthcare system is teetering on the brink of collapse as jammed hospitals turn away patients, leading desperate families to hunt for oxygen tanks to treat the sick and dying at home.

"The stricter restrictions came too late," said Jakarta resident Maya Puspita Sari.

"Before, people who got COVID-19 were strangers, but now it's also the people closest to me who are infected... The virus is getting so much closer and it's terrifying."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/could-your-face-mask-detect-covid-394963" hreflang="en">Could your face mask detect Covid?</a>

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Myanmar ordered two million people in the second city of Mandalay to stay at home Friday as the coup-hit country struggles to contain coronavirus cases.

New measures were also put in place in Portugal, with a night curfew entering&nbsp;into force for nearly half the population in a bid rein in rising Delta infections.

New waves in Russia, Iran

Russia has so far ruled out a new lockdown to fight surging Delta cases, even as it reported 697 more deaths on Saturday -- setting a new nationwide record for the fifth straight day.

Second city Saint Petersburg hosted a Euro 2020 quarter-final between Spain and Switzerland on Friday night, with concern raised after hundreds of cases were detected among spectators attending games across the continent.

Russia had hoped its vaccination campaign would tamp down a new wave, but it has met with widespread scepticism and a sluggish rollout, with only 16 percent of the 146 million population jabbed.

AFP journalists saw hundreds of people waiting at vaccination points across Moscow on Friday.

"I've been queueing for about two hours already," 21-year-old student Svetlana Stepereva said in the northeast of the capital.&nbsp;

"I want to get a jab and feel safe."

This week President Vladimir Putin urged Russians to "listen to experts" rather than rumours about the virus and vaccines.

Iran, battling the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus, has warned it could be hit by yet another wave of infections.

"It is feared that we are on the way to a fifth wave throughout the country," President Hassan Rouhani told a meeting of Iran's anti-virus taskforce, warning the public to be careful as "the Delta variant has spread" in southern provinces.

Delta rises in Africa, Fiji

The Delta variant, first identified in India and now present in at least 85 countries, has driven outbreaks in places that had previously been able to mostly avoid the pandemic's ravages.

Fiji, which went an entire year without recording any community coronavirus cases until Delta arrived in April, recorded its biggest-ever infection increase on Saturday.

Authorities reported two deaths and warned of more to come as the virus threatens to overwhelm the South Pacific nation's health system.

Africa has also been largely spared the worst of the pandemic, but infection numbers have increased in the continent for six weeks running, driven by the Delta variant.

Deaths rose by 15 percent across 38 African countries to nearly 3,000 in the same period.

"The speed and scale of Africa's third wave is like nothing we've seen before," Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, said this week.

South Africa, the continent's worst-hit country, posted a new record of 24,000 cases on Friday.

"We are indeed... in the eye of the storm of the third wave," Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla said.

Meanwhile in Italy 300 healthcare workers have lodged a legal challenge against the requirement that they get vaccinated against coronavirus, according to media reports.

"This isn't a battle by anti-vaxxers but a democratic battle," constitutional lawyer Daniele Granara, who helped build up the case, told the Giornale di Brescia newspaper.

Russia reported its fifth record for daily COVID-19 deaths in a row on Saturday, as countries around the world rushed to contain the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Russia reported its fifth record for daily COVID-19 deaths in a row on Saturday, as countries around the world rushed to contain the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. The variant has propelled a resurgence of the virus which has already killed nearly four million people, forcing numerous nations to reimpose restrictions well over a year after the pandemic first swept the world. Thousands of troops and police hit the streets in Indonesia to enforce a partial lockdown imposed on Saturday, as the country recorded a record 27,913 new daily cases as well as 493 deaths. Also read | 'Delta variant is of concern': Joe Biden urges people to get vaccinated Mosques, restaurants and shopping malls were shuttered in the capital Jakarta, across the main island of Java and on Bali after the daily caseload quadrupled in less than a month, with the Delta variant blamed. The overwhelmed healthcare system is teetering on the brink of collapse as jammed hospitals turn away patients, leading desperate families to hunt for oxygen tanks to treat the sick and dying at home. "The stricter restrictions came too late," said Jakarta resident Maya Puspita Sari. "Before, people who got COVID-19 were strangers, but now it's also the people closest to me who are infected... The virus is getting so much closer and it's terrifying." Also read | Could your face mask detect Covid? Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Myanmar ordered two million people in the second city of Mandalay to stay at home Friday as the coup-hit country struggles to contain coronavirus cases. New measures were also put in place in Portugal, with a night curfew entering into force for nearly half the population in a bid rein in rising Delta infections. New waves in Russia, Iran Russia has so far ruled out a new lockdown to fight surging Delta cases, even as it reported 697 more deaths on Saturday -- setting a new nationwide record for the fifth straight day. Second city Saint Petersburg hosted a Euro 2020 quarter-final between Spain and Switzerland on Friday night, with concern raised after hundreds of cases were detected among spectators attending games across the continent. Russia had hoped its vaccination campaign would tamp down a new wave, but it has met with widespread scepticism and a sluggish rollout, with only 16 percent of the 146 million population jabbed. AFP journalists saw hundreds of people waiting at vaccination points across Moscow on Friday. "I've been queueing for about two hours already," 21-year-old student Svetlana Stepereva said in the northeast of the capital. "I want to get a jab and feel safe." This week President Vladimir Putin urged Russians to "listen to experts" rather than rumours about the virus and vaccines. Iran, battling the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus, has warned it could be hit by yet another wave of infections. "It is feared that we are on the way to a fifth wave throughout the country," President Hassan Rouhani told a meeting of Iran's anti-virus taskforce, warning the public to be careful as "the Delta variant has spread" in southern provinces. Delta rises in Africa, Fiji The Delta variant, first identified in India and now present in at least 85 countries, has driven outbreaks in places that had previously been able to mostly avoid the pandemic's ravages. Fiji, which went an entire year without recording any community coronavirus cases until Delta arrived in April, recorded its biggest-ever infection increase on Saturday. Authorities reported two deaths and warned of more to come as the virus threatens to overwhelm the South Pacific nation's health system. Africa has also been largely spared the worst of the pandemic, but infection numbers have increased in the continent for six weeks running, driven by the Delta variant. Deaths rose by 15 percent across 38 African countries to nearly 3,000 in the same period. "The speed and scale of Africa's third wave is like nothing we've seen before," Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, said this week. South Africa, the continent's worst-hit country, posted a new record of 24,000 cases on Friday. "We are indeed... in the eye of the storm of the third wave," Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla said. Meanwhile in Italy 300 healthcare workers have lodged a legal challenge against the requirement that they get vaccinated against coronavirus, according to media reports. "This isn't a battle by anti-vaxxers but a democratic battle," constitutional lawyer Daniele Granara, who helped build up the case, told the Giornale di Brescia newspaper.

Russia sets another Covid record as world battles Delta variant

delta-variant

Delta Variant, News on Delta Variant, stories on Delta Variant, articles on Delta Variant, Delta Variant stories at Wion, Delta Variant news, Delta Variant latest news