The Indian variant is still growing in the world: it has now been observed in more than 70 countries

 Steph Deschamps / June 9, 2021

The delta variant progressed again last week. It is now seen in more than 70 countries and territories, and checks are being conducted in about 15 more, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday in Geneva.

First identified in India, the delta variant is more contagious. It threatens the lifting of certain restrictions planned in Great Britain for June 21.

In one week, its presence has expanded to 12 additional countries or territories, according to WHO data up to Sunday morning. The other three variants that the organization is concerned about are now advancing at a slower pace.

On Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the number of cases worldwide had fallen last week for the sixth consecutive week. According to figures released on Wednesday, the decline reached 15%.

Europe, where the decline is still close to 20%, and all other regions have seen a decrease. Except for Africa, where infections have increased by 25%. The situation in this area but also in the American continent and in the Western Pacific is of concern to the WHO.

These three components all faced an expansion in the number of new deaths last week. Despite a decrease in the total of these new victims worldwide, by 8%. In total, more than 3.7 million people have died since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 173 million people have been infected.