WHO warns of increase in Delta variant transmissibility and pressure on healthcare

The WHO has warned that the higher transmissibility associated with the COVID-19’s Delta variant is anticipated to significantly increase cases and impose a larger strain on healthcare systems, particularly in areas where vaccine coverage is poor.

In its COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on Tuesday, the World Health Organisation said that an overall rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant is reported across all WHO regions.

As of July 13, at least 111 countries, territories and areas have reported detection of the Delta variant, and this is expected to continue to increase, becoming the dominant variant globally in the coming months.

The increased transmissibility associated with the Delta variant is likely to result in substantial increases in case incidence and greater pressure on healthcare systems, particularly in contexts of low vaccine coverage, it said.